Well, the UKS 1 VVV CL001 data set is a collection that keeps on surprising me.

Right at the top of the UKS 1 60x60 sec Lum Frames, I discovered a short trail, and the subsequent investigation revealed it to be a Main-belt Asteroid, 9788 Yagami, at mag 18.4, my faintest asteroid to date located between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter.

The Asteroid’s relatively slow motion allowed it to register on the sensor.

Tak Mewlon 210 F11.5, Reducer x0.8, ASI294MM Camera, 60x60 sec Lum Filter.

9788 Yagami was discovered by Takao Kobayashi, a Japanese amateur astronomer and an outstanding discoverer of minor planets who currently works at the Ōizumi Observatory. The asteroid 3500 Kobayashi is named after him.

Kobayashi has discovered more than 2000 asteroids using CCD technology, including the Amor asteroids 7358 Oze, (23714) 1998 EC3, (48603) 1995 BC2 and about nine Trojan asteroids. He also discovered the periodic comet P/1997 B1 (Kobayashi), which he originally reported as an asteroid.

Ōizumi Observatory (obs. code: 411) is a private astronomical observatory in Ōizumi, Gunma Prefecture, Japan. Takao Kobayashi has made discoveries of numerous minor planets at the observatory. Since its founding, Kobayashi has discovered 1,200 minor asteroids and their positions using a 10-inch (250 mm) telescope.

https://minorplanetcenter.net/db_search/...ct_id=9788

https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/tools/sbdb_look...?sstr=9788

Cheers

Dennis

   

   

I've created a new Youtube channel where I share videos about the imaging I am doing. Its called The Imaging Project. This channel is only tangentially related to SkyTools as I use SkyTools to plan the images.

Here is the premiere video. If you like the idea, please consider sharing the link.

I was digging around in the bowels of ST4 Imaging and came up with the faint GC UKS 1 at mag 17.3 using the Database Power Search.

I managed to record a dim trace of UKS 1 along with the more recently discovered VVV CL001. These are very faint bulge Globular Clusters in Sagittarius, heavily obscured by interstellar dust, making optical observations very difficult.

Takahashi Mewlon 210 F11.5
Tak x0.8 Reducer/Flattener.

ASI294M Pro camera, Bortle 6 skies.
·       L: 60X60 secs
·       R: 20X60 secs
·       G: 20X60 secs
·       B: 20X60 secs
·       IR742: 30x60 secs
·       IR807: 20X60 secs

Just 158 globular clusters were known to be in the Milky Way until the European Southern Observatory's VISTA survey telescope, at the Paranal Observatory in Chile, located two faint new ones, called VVV CL001 and VVV CL002. (2011). However, an Australian Amateur Astronomer (Steve Crouch) did report recording what was to become VVV CL001 sometime in 2010, before the professional discovery was announced.

Astronomers have suggested that VVV CL001 is gravitationally tied to UKS 1, which could make these two objects the Milky Way's first binary globular cluster pair, ESO officials said. But this could simply be an effect of the telescope's line of sight, which could be distorting the true distance between the clusters.

Since interstellar dust absorbs and reddens starlight, this newly found pair is quite faint, which explains why they have been hidden for so long. Up until a few years ago, the UKS 1 cluster, which was discovered in 1980, was the dimmest known globular cluster in the Milky Way. However, it easily outshines those found by VISTA.

I have included a PanSTARRS image to show the location of these faint GC’s.

My image is the one that does not have the blown out brighter stars.

Cheers
 
Dennis

   

   

CNEOS predicts that the newly discovered NEO, 2023 OU, will make a close approach on 2023-Jul-22 23:42±<00:01 UT at a distance of 0.00449 AU with V Relative=6.06 km/sec, H=26.1 magnitude, diameter 16 m - 36 m and 'Rarity'=1. The Condition Code=5 with a 12 day observation arc. The Earth MOID = 0.00427008 AU. The first reported observation was by ATLAS South Africa, Sutherland on 2023-07-18, but the observation arc was extendeded with additional observations by Mt. Lemmon Survey on 2023 Jul 8.

Using MPC's elements for 2023 Jul 21 0000 UT, ST4v predicts that this NEO will reach a maximum brightness of 16.2 magnitude on 2023 Jul 22 0400 EDT with the MP in Pavo below the horizon in Columbus, Ohio. This is a southern hemisphere object.

Here's the Object Info dialog for this NEO:     

Good hunting,

Phil S.

CNEOS predicts that this newly discovered NEO will make a close approach on 2023-Jul-22 00:49±00:29 UT at a distance of 0.00751 AU with V Relative=15.22 km/sec, H=23.4 magnitude, diameter 57 m - 130 m, 'Rarity'=2. The Condition Code=8 with a 2 day observation arc. The Earth MOID=0.00034764 AU. This is another NEO that should end up on the Potentially Hazardous Objects list.

The first reported observation was by ATLAS Chile, Rio Hurtado on 2023-07-14.

Here's the Object Info dialog for this object:     

Good hnting,

Phil S.

Hi,

is there any keyboard shurtcut to open the designation search tool in the target list?

I haven't found any info in the help.

Thanks,

Markus

CNEOS predicts that this medium sized NEO will make a close approach on 2023-Jul-12 15:58±<00:01 UT at a distance of 0.01904 AU with V Relative=16.38 km/sec, H=20.8 magnitude, diameter 180 m - 410 m and 'Rarity'=2. The Condition Code=0 with a 5463 day observation arc. The Earth MOID=0.00750118 AU. This bad boy is on the Potentially Hazardous Objects list. It makes approaches to Venus, Earth & Mars - an equal opportunity hazard.

Using MPC's elements for 2023 Jul 5 0000 UT, ST4v predicts that this MP will reach maximum brightness of 14.8 magnitude on 2023 Jul 13 1000 EDT at a distance of 0.02 AU moving through Hydrus at 60"/minute in daylight below the horizon in Columbus, Ohio. The light curve is rather flat so the peak is broad.  The close approach (to the nearest hour) is predicted to occur on 2023 Jul 12 1200 EDT (1600 UT) when the NEO is predicted to be 15.5 magnitude in Dorado moving at 42"/minute again in daylight and below the horizon in Columbus, Ohio. This object is best observed from the southern hemisphere, weather permitting.

Here's the Object Info dialog for this object:     

Good hunting,

Phil S.

CNEOS predicts that 2 Rarity=2 close approaches will occur in the next 2 weeks. 2018 UY on 2023-Jul-12 15:58±<00:01 UT at a distance of 0.01904 AU, V Relative=16.38 km/sec, H=20.8 magnitude and diameter 180 m - 410 m. This orbit is well defined.

The recently discovered NEO 2023 MG6 is predicted to follow 4 days later on 2023-Jul-16 21:39±00:38 UT at a distance of 0.02432 AU, V Relative=12.37 km/sec, H=20.5 magnitude and diameter 210 m - 470 m. Currently the Condition Code for this object is 9 with an observation arc of 4 days, so the time of close approach should become more accurate in the next few days.

It's very unusual to have 2 NEOs this large make close approaches within ~4 days although they are 7.4 and 9.5 lunar distances (LD) distant at close approach. God space is big. Neither of these objects has come within the 0.05 AU threshold that I use when looking for bright close approaches, but ST4v predicts that 2018 UY will reach maximum brightness of 14.8 magnitude on July 13.

I'll post an update as more accurate information becoms available.

Phil S.