CNEOS predicts that the newly discovered NEO 2023 JK3 will make a close approach on 2023-May-22 06:31±00:08 UT at a distance of 0.00416 AU, with V Relative=4.89 km/sec, H=25.7 magnitude, size 20 m - 44 m, 'Rarity'=1 and Condition Code=7. There was a 3 day observation arc. The Earth MOID = 0.00367689 AU. The first reported observation was by Mt. Lemmon Survey on 2023-05-13. The accuracy of the close approach time should improve in the next few days as more observations are obtained.

Using MPC's elements for 2023 May 16 0000 UT, ST4v predicts that close approach (to the nearest hour) will occur on 2023 May 22 0300 EDT with the NEO 636.1k km distant and 15.6 magnitude traveling through Centaurus at 97.5"/min below the horizon in Columbus, Ohio. The peak brightness of 15.4 magnitude is predicted to occur on 2023 May 21 2200 EDT when the NEO is 641.2k km distant moving through Lupus at 97.4"/min also below the horizon from Columbus, Ohio.

This NEO is best observed from the southern hemisphere, weather permitting.

Here's the Object Info dialog for this MP:     

Good hunting,

Phil S.

CNEOS seems down right now but I ran into this old big rock that makes a close pass on the evening of June 11 20:00CDT. This ~1/2Km rock will be running in the mid 13s b4 moon rise on both the 10th & 11th just after midnight at a speed near 1'/min high in the east. Possibly one bright enough for a look-see.

I have all of my observational logs in SkyTools. Over 2100 entries. What I would like to do is perform a database power search for all double/multiple stars I have observed (logged) so far.

In the database power search tool, under the Stars tab, there are many filtering options. If I select no check marks under "Databases to Search" and leave all other selections as default, except for the "Include Objects With Log Entries" and choose "Logged", I return 679 entries. If I choose "Multiple Stars Only" in the "Databases to Search" and again leave all filters default except the "Logged" option, I return 568 entries. When I do a search with both "Multiple Stars Only" and "Variable Stars Only" checked, again with "Logged" objects, I return 214 entries. If I then do another search and choose "Variable Stars Only" I return 114 entries.

I know that there are many stars designated as variable/double stars, "Component of Multiple Star". So how do I get an accurate count of how many multiple stars I have observed and logged if some multiple stars are also designated as variables?

It seems that if I'm choosing "Multiple Stars Only" I may not be getting returns for all of the stars that are designated as variable/double stars. Does anyone have any idea how to get an accurate search return for all multiple stars I have observed? Does the "Multiple Stars Only" checkbox include variable/double stars?

For example: V376 Cep. Its Object Information reads as a "Variable" and a "Component of Multiple Star".

It is in the "All Stars" search results. (No check marks under “Databases to Search”)
It is in the "Variable stars Only" checked search.
It is not in the "Multiple Stars Only" checked search.
It is not in the "Multiple Stars Only" and "Variable Stars Only" checked search.

Any help or advice would be appreciated. Or if there is another way to filter out and search just for all Double/Multiple Stars I have logged.

If I go to the Log Browser and choose the Class of object, only Stars is available, and it lists 690 objects. Thanks in advance.

Hello All,

I am a faithful, devoted, multi-decade user of Sky Tools, and really love it.   Is there a way to get a list of bright Cepheid variables in the Milky Way?   It might be a fun thing to add to my public outreach observing list to show people and explain about Henrietta Leavitt, Ed Hubble, the accelerating expansion of the universe, etc., and all that good stuff.

Thank you for any ideas!
Christina LeGrand

CNEOS predicts that the newly discovered NEO, 2023 HU4, will make a close approach on 2023-Apr-27 10:38±<00:01 UT at a distance of 0.00353 AU, V Relative = 7.81 km/sec, H=26.4 magnitude. The estimated diameter is 14 m - 31 m, 'Rarity'=1, Condition Code=6 with a 1 day observation arc. The Earth MOID=0.00358663 AU. This object was first observed at Catalina Sky Survey on 2023-04-25.

Using MPC's elements for 2023 Apr 26 0000 UT, ST4v predicts that the close approach will occur (to the nearest hour) on 2023 Apr 27 0700 EDT when the NEO is predicted to be 531.5k km distant moving through Virgo at 15.2 magnitude at ~180"/min. Maximum brightness of 14.9 magnitude is predicted to occur on 2023 Apr 27 0200 EDT when the MP is 546.1k km distant moving through Virgo at 165"/min.

Here's the Object Info dialog for this NEO:     

The close approach occurs near the celestial equator so this object should be visible from both the northern & southern hemispheres, weather permitting.

Good hunting,

Phil S.

CNEOS predicts that the newly discovered NEO, 2023 HZ3, will make a close approach on 2023-Apr-28 23:47±00:17 UT at a distance of 0.00318 AU, V Relative=8.79 km/sec, H=27.5 magnitude, size 8.4 m - 19 m, 'Rarity'=0. The Condition Code=7 with a 2 day observation arc. The Earth MOID=0.0025366 AU This NEO was first observed at Pan-STARRS 2, Haleakala on 2023-04-22. The orbit should be refined as more observations are obtained.

Using MPC's elements for 2023 Apr 24 0000 UT, ST4v predicts that the close approach will occur (to the nearest hour) on 2023 Apr 29 0000 EDT when the NEO will be 480.2k km distant at 17.3 magnitude moving through Pavo at 230"/min in daylight and below the horizon in Columbus, Ohio. The peak brightness of 16.7 magnitude is predicted to occur 2023 Apr 28 1100 EDT with the object in Lupus moving at 166"/min again in daylight below the horizon. This is a southern hemisphere object.

Here's an Object Info dialog for this NEO:     

The time of the close approach should become more accurate in the next several days. As this object will be very close, parallax will affect the observed positions. Everyone will need finder charts for their location with recent elements.

Good hunting,

Phil S.

Now with 29 obs over 7 days, the info on this large PHA is getting locked in but still no old data from past due to the infrequent close passes.

I think the big guys may be able to track it until early June when it crosses the 24th mag zone.

The next near Earth pass is scary close:
2028-Nov-16 05:36 ± 4_11:31 Earth minimum distance  0.0e+0

This rock is no pebble - H = 19.8 <=> 290~650 m 

Hard hats required.

CNEOS predicts that this newly discovered NEO will make a close approach on 2023-Apr-20 05:07±00:03 UT at a distance of 0.00228 AU, V Relative=15.93 km/sec, H=27.1, estimated size 10 m - 23 m, 'Rarity'=1. Condition Code=8 with a 2 day observation arc. The Earth MOID=0.00225718 AU. This object was first observed at Mt. Lemmon Survey on 2023-04-16. This is a near optimum pass!

Using MPC's elements for 2023 Apr 18 0000 UT, ST4v predicts that close approach will occur on (to the nearest hour) 2023 Apr 20 0100 EDT when 2023 HK is predicted to be 17.5 magnitude moving through Cygnus at 578"/min. Maximum brightness of 16.7 magnitude occurs 2023 Apr 19 2200 EDT with 2023 HK 386.2k km distant moving through Draco at 461"/min.

This one is really moving and parallax will affect the apparent position against the stars, so anyone attempting to observe this close approach will need to download the orbital elements and create their own finder charts. Here's the Object Info dialog for 2023 HK:     

Good hunting,

Phil S.

I used the “Database Power Search Tool” in SkyTools 4 Imaging to select and download a list of Quasars in Virgo with a Redshift (z) between 4 and 6.

On that list I found BTC40 J1429+011 listed at Magnitude: 19.40 I, so I thought I’d fit my IR Pass IR742 filter and see if I could record this Quasar. An on-line search indicated the following:

SIMBAD Basic data :
[VV2006] J142926.5+011954 -- Quasar
ICRS coord. (ep=J2000): 14 29 26.4254653128 +01 19 53.572666764 (Optical)
B 24.55
V 22.53
G 20.579714
u (AB) 23.63
g (AB) 24.04
r (AB) 21.121
i (AB) 19.731
z (AB) 19.578

Although I could not hope to record objects at mag 23 or 24, I figured I might be in with a chance at i=19.731 using my IR742 Filter.

SkyTools 4 showed this Quasar with a Redshift (z): 4.84 and Light Time: 13.0 Gyr.

IMAGING DATA

• I captured 60x60 sec exposures.
  
• Tak Mewlon 210 F11.5
  
• Tak x0.8 Reducer
  
• ZWO ASI294MM Pro Camera
  
• Bin 2x2 (3126x2088 Pixels)
  
• IR Pass Filter IR742.
  
• Suburban Bortle 6/7 skies.
  

• Full FOV showing a 1600x1600 crop overlay
  
• My inverted 1600x1600 crop showing the “ghost” position of the Quasar.
  
• An enlarged composite showing the offset between the actual position and my "ghost" object.
  

• Center (RA, Dec): (217.333, 1.368)
  
• Center (RA, hms): 14h 29m 20.033s
  
• Center (Dec, dms): +01° 22' 03.673"
  
• Size: 11.7 x 11.7 arcmin
  
• Radius: 0.138 deg
  
• Pixel scale: 0.439 arcsec/pixel
  
• Orientation: Up is 359.9 degrees E of N
  

CNEOS predicts that the newly discovered NEO 2023 HH will make a close approach on  2023-Apr-18 12:49±00:02 UT at a distance of 0.00096 AU while traveling at 10.62 km/sec. H=28.9, the size is 4.5 m - 10.0 m, 'Rarity'=0, Condition Code=7, with a 1 day observation arc. The Earth MOID=8.46484E-5 AU. This NEO was first observed at Pan-STARRS 2, Haleakala on 2023-04-16.

Using MPC's elements for 2023 Apr 17 0000 UT, ST4v predicts that close approach will occur (to the nearest hour) on 2023 Apr 18 0900 EDT at 16.4 magnitude traveling through Sagittarius at 14.4"/sec in daylight from Columbus, Ohio. This object is predicted to reach a peak brightness of 15.8 magnitude on 2023 Apr 18 1800 EDT at 182.1k km in Lupus moving at 547.7"/min in twilight from Columbus, Ohio. 

Here's the Object Info dialog for this object:     

This was one of 30 NEOs added to the MPC's list of objects today! 

Good hunting,

Phil S.