I have been trying to research Bernes 47 and 48 on the internet - unsuccessfully.  How do I find copies of the Bernes catalogues?  

Actually, it would be great if Sky Tools had links to all the catalogues it uses

Thanks,
Rich

Hi Greg,

(writing live from the observatory). Is there a way to quickly turn off and on the labels in the EV screen? I know it's possible to do it by going to the view controls, then the Labels tab, then click on the Activate Labels checkbox, then click on Apply then closing the window. I'm asking if there's a faster (ideally one keyboard shortcut) way.

The rationale is when the labels (useful as they are) stand in the way of seeing the star pattern (useful with more obscure open clusters, for instance). Perhaps a more generalized way would be not only labels on/off, but anything else (FOV circles, target crosshair) except the atlas itself to be on/off. 

Just asking if it's possible. 

Thanks.

After watching an enthralling Netflix documentary covering the James Webb Space Telescope, (JWST), I opened the JPL Horizons Web Application and searched for the JWST.

The ephemeris from JPL Horizons indicated that the JWST would be high up in the skies, located in the constellation of Sagittarius. Even better, outside, the skies were clear.

I managed to collect 5 sets of image runs, whilst dodging some intermittent thin, wispy clouds.

• Run 02 - 60 frames 8:07PM to 9:08PM AEST (UT+10)
  
• Run 03 - 57 frames 9:15PM to 10:13PM AEST (UT+10)
  
• Run 04 - 48 frames 10:223PM to 11:11PM AEST (UT+10)
  
• Run 05 - 60 frames 11:13PM to 00:14AM AEST (UT+10)
  
• Run 06 - 60 frames 00:26AM to 01:27AM AEST (UT+10)
  

• Tak Mewlon 210 F11.5
  
• Tak x0.8 Reducer/Flattener
  
• QHY268M Camera
  
• Scale: 0.726 arcseconds/pixel
  
• 2137mm F10.2
  
• 14th – 15th August 2023
  
• Brisbane, QLD
  

Yesterday I spotted a new bright comet on the PCCP, so I quickly made a reservation to image it this morning from Chile. Glen has the story of how I did it.

I just noticed today that the MPC has updated the epoch for MP orbits form 2023 Feb 25.0 to 2023 Sep 13.0. If you've downloaded the MP datafile MPCORB in SkyTools to get the orbit data for all of the MPs, you may want to get a fresh download with the updated elements for the new epoch of osculation. I don't know when the switch occurred.

Phil S.

CNEOS predicts that the newly discovered NEO, 2023 PQ, will make a close approach on 2023-Aug-14 11:21±00:29 UT at a distance of 0.00506 AU with V Relative=14.80 km/sec, H=24.9 magnitude, diameter 27 m - 61 m, 'Rarity'=1. The Condition Code=8 with a 1 day observation arc. The Earth MOID=0.00495742 AU. The first reported observation was by MAP, San Pedro de Atacama on 2023-08-10. This orbit should be refined further before close approach.

Using MPC's elements for NEOs at Today's Epoch for 2023 Aug 11 0000 UT, ST4v predicts that this NEO will reach peak brightness of 16.1 magnitude on 2023 August 13 2300 EDT (August 14 0300 UT) at 878.9k km distance moving through Octans at 181"/minute. Close approach (to the nearest hour) is predixcted to occur 2023 August 14 0700 EDT (1100 UT) at 758.6 k km moving through Volans at 234"/minute and 16.8 magnitude. This is a southern hemisphere object. The track looks like it will pass close to the South Celestial Pole (SCP), but in daylight.

Here's the Object Info dialog for this NEO: [attachment=2908]

Hopefully the weather will cooperate.

Good hunting,

Phil S.

I have started a Comet Chasing Channel as a monthly companion to my Comet Chasing web page. I hope you will give it a watch. I have long been a comet chasing evangelist, and as always, I hope you will consider adding a comet or two to your observing list this month.

Here is the August video:

CNEOS predicts that the medium-sized NEO (6037) 1988 EG will make a close approach on 2023-Aug-23 08:18±<00:01 UT at a distance of 0.04065 AU with V Relative=14.25 km/sec, H=19.0 magnitude, diameter 430 m - 960 m and 'Rarity'=2. The Condition Code=0 with a 12,960 day observation arc. This NEO has a well characterized orbit. The Earth MOID=0.0239426 AU. It's on the MPC's list of Potentially Hazardous Asteroids.

Using MPC's elements for 2023 Aug 7 0000 UT, ST4v predicts that this NEO will reach a peak brightness of 14.6 magnitude from the evening of August 17 in Vulpecula to August 20 in Lyra as the peak of the brightness curve is rather flat. On the evening of August 20 in Lyra the NEO is predicted to be traveling at 21"/minute. Close approach (to the nearest hour) is predicted to occur on 2023 August 23 0400 EDT (0800 UT) with the MP at 15.3 magnitude traveling through Corona Borealis at 28.5"/minute, but undetectable on the horizon as seen from Columbus, Ohio.

It looks like August 22 ~1600 EDT (2000 UT) this NEO will pass within 1° of M13 in Hercules.

Here's the Object Info Dialog for this NEO: [attachment=2907]

Good hunting,

Phil S.

For the last 2 days the Minor Planet Center website has been offline.

The URL that I've been using to access their website is:

minorplanetcenter.net

SkyTools 4 Visual isn't able to download the MP data from the MPC either.

Does anyone know what's wrong?

TIA,

Phil S.

So I started a new visual observing video series, and in the second video I clumsily observe two comets.