I had the opportunity to grab some images of the ESA Jupiter Icy moons Explorer ("JUICE") from Brisbane on 15th April 2023. The original launch date was 13th April, but this was delayed due to poor weather until the 14th April 2023. On that evening, apart from a few clouds, JUICE was below my obstructed horizon.

The Jupiter Icy moons Explorer ("JUICE") is an ESA mission launched on 14th April 2023 from French Guiana (ELA-3) on an Ariane 5. Its period and area of operations will overlap with NASA's Europa Clipper mission launching in 2024.

The next evening, 15th April, I used the JPL Horizons System to generate an ephemeris for my location and observing period, including the RA and DEC coordinates for both J2000 and Apparent data.

I plugged the J2000 coordinates into the “Object Requestor” “Enter Coordinate” Dialog in ST4 Imaging, which centred me in the predicted field.

After a GoTo and a couple of test exposures I was astonished to find two objects moving along the same trajectory? The “main” object I assume was JUICE and the other trail must have been the rocket booster? These are the 2 horizontal trails, the diagonal trail at bottom left zipped through the field early on in the series.

I managed to record 60x60 sec exposures (some cloud interrupted) and to make things a little more interesting, we had a power outage part way through the evening and I had to re-boot everything and start over.

Tak Mewlon 210 F11.5
Tak x0.8 Reducer
FL=2100mm at F10.3.
QHY268M Camera.

15th April 2023, 9:13PM to 10:14PM AEST
UTC: 2023-04-15T11:13 to 12:14.
Brisbane.

Cheers

Dennis

   

   

CNEOS predicts that the Aten class NEO 2006 HV5 will make a close approach on 2023-Apr-26 03:43±<00:01 UT at a distance of 0.01618 AU traveling  17.42 km/sec. H=19.7 magnitude for this medium-sized object with diameter 0.307±0.076 km, 'Rarity'=2, Condition Code=0. The Earth MOID=0.0154196 AU.

Using MPC's elements for 2023 Apr 14 0000 UT, ST4v predicts that this NEO will reach a peak brightness of 15.1 magnitude on April 24 at 0500 EDT when the object is 0.02 AU distant moving through Draco at 39.7"/min. At close approach the predicted brightness is 15.4 magnitude moving through Andromeda at 90.5 "/min just above the horizon and undetectable in a 13" telescope from Columbus, Ohio.

Here's the Object Info dialog for this close approach:     

Good hunting,

Phil S.

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

One of these was BR 1202-0725 in Virgo with z = 4.69

Summary of Quasar details from ST4 Imaging:
BR 1202-0725, Quasar, aka Q1202-0725
R.A.  12h05m23.1s Dec.: -07°42'32" (2000) in Virgo
Magnitude: 18.70 R
Redshift (z): 4.69
Light Time: 12.0 Gyr
Apparent Data for 2023 Apr 9  GMT+10:
Apparent RA:  12h06m35.3s, Apparent Dec: -07°50'23"

Tak Mewlon 210 F11.5
Tak x0.8 Reducer
QHY268M Pro camera 53x60 sec exposures

To pinpoint the location, along with the DSS Download from within ST4, I also used a reference image from a paper titled “ISO observations of the dusty quasar BR 1202-0725” at:

ISO observations of the dusty quasar BR 1202-0725 | Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society | Oxford Academic (oup.com)

From the Bortle 6/7 skies of suburban Brisbane, I was able to record stars beyond mag 20.

Cheers

Dennis

   

CNEOS predicts that the newly discovered NEO 2023 GG will make a close approach on 2023-Apr-11 00:25±<00:01 UT at a distance of 0.01018 AU moving at 10.59 km/sec. H=23.3 magnitude, the diameter is 59 m - 130 m, 'Rarity'=1, Condition Code=7, 3 day observation arc. The Earth MOID=0.00395153 AU. This NEO was first observed at ATLAS South Africa, Sutherland on 2023-04-05.

Using MPC's elements for 2023 Apr 8 0000 UT, ST4v predicts that this NEO will reach a peak brightness of 15.6 magnitude on 2023 Apr 9 at 2200 EDT when it will be moving through Hydra at 66"/min. The predicted close approach time (to the nearest hour) is 2023 Apr 10 at 2000 EDT at 15.7 magnitude moving through Cancer at 87"/min in daylight from Columbus, Ohio.

Here's the Object Info dialog for this close approach:     

Good hunting,

Phil S.

CNEOS predicts that the large NEO (436774) 2012 KY3 will make a close approach on 2023-Apr-13 19:08 ± < 00:01 UT at a distance of 0.03198 AU with V Relative=17.55 km/sec, H=18.5 magnitude, a diameter 540 m - 1.2 km and 'Rarity'=2. The Condition Code=0 and the Earth MOID=0.0238409 AU. The orbit is well known.

Using MPC's elements for 2023 Apr 3 0000 UT, ST4v predicts that this NEO will reach a peak brightness of 14.2 magnitude on the evening of April 14/15 at 0.04 AU distance moving through Octans at ~30"/min below the horizon in Columbus, Ohio. The close approach (to the nearest hour) on 2023 Apr 13 at 1500 EDT, 15.3 magnitude and 0.03 AU distance occurs in Grus with the NEO moving at 44.9"/min still below the horizon, now in daylight. This is a southern hemisphere object, weather permitting.

Here's the Object Info dialog showing the data at close approach:     

Good hunting,

Phil S.

A friend of mine posted this to an IO group I am a member of:

I have a series of images that show the passage of an asteroid on August 29, 2022 just past midnight near NGC559 in the constellation of Cassiopeia.  Anyone have any information on where I can look to identify this asteroid?

I opened up SkyTools 4 Imaging for the date and time mentioned, and in the Chart Control - View option, I had Minor Planets checked.  Under Lebels, I had them activated and Minor Planets checked.  I did not see any asteroids on the Interactive Atlas.

Am I doing something wrong in trying to see the asteroids that passed NGC 559 on the night of August 29, 2022?

Jack Huerkamp

CNEOS predicts that the recently discovered NEO 2023 FM will make a close approch on 2023-Apr-06 13:08±00:02 UT at a distance of 0.02009 AU moving at 15.81 km/sec, H=21.7 magnitude, diameter 120 m - 270 m, 'Rarity'=1, Condition Code=8, 13 day observation arc, Earth MOID 0.0198953 AU.
This object was first observed at ATLAS Chile, Rio Hurtado on 2023-03-16.

Using MPC's elements for 2023 Mar 30 0000 UT, ST4v predicts that 2023 FM will reach peak brightness of 14.8 magnitude on April 5 ~0300 EDT at 0.02 AU distance moving through Bootes at 48.4"/min. This MP is predicted to be brighter than 15.5 magnitude from April 2 - 6, so there are several nights for observation despite the interfering full moon.

Here's the Object Info dialog for this NEO:     

Since the Condition Code=8, the orbit should be refined as the time of close approach nears.

Good hunting,

Phil S.

CNEOS predicts that the newly discovered NEO 2023 FH7 will make a close approach on 2023-Mar-30 18:08± 00:02 UT at a distance of 0.00111 AU traveling at 8.69 km/sec. H=28.7 magnitude, estimated diameter is 4.7 m - 11 m, 'Rarity'=0, Condition Code=7, with a 1 day observation arc. The Earth MOID is 0.00104039 AU. This object was first observed at Mt. Lemmon Survey on 2023-03-28.

Using MPC's elements for 2023 Mar 29 0000 UT, ST4v predicts that this object will reach a peak brightness of 16.7 magnitude on  March 30 at 1300  EDT at 174.6k km distance moving through Volans at 582"/min in daylight and below the horizon in Columbus Ohio. The close approach (to the nearest hour) is predicted to occur on 2023 March 30 1400 EDT 170.5k km distant at 16.8 magnitude, still in Volans moving at 10.3 "/sec in daylight and below the horizon in Columbus, Ohio.

This is a southern hemisphere screamer with very little warning. I hope Dennis's mount can track that fast  .

Here's the ST4v Object Info dialog for this NEO:     

Good hunting,

Phil S.

CNEOS predicts that this medium sized NEO will make a close approach on 2023-Mar-30 08:08±<00:01 UT at a distance of 0.07756 AU. It will be moving at 10.41 km/sec, H=20.2 magnitude, the size is 240 m - 540 m, 'Rarity'=1 and Condition Code=0. The Earth MOID is 0.0662636 AU so it never gets very close.

Using MPC's elements for 2023 Mar 28 0000 UT, ST4v predicts that this NEO will reach a peak brightness of 15.9 magnitude on April 4 0000 EDT when it will be moving through Leo at 0.08 AU distance at 9.7"/min. Unfortunately ST4v predicts that the full moon will make visual observation impossible in a 13" scope. The nights of March 28 - April 1 are better because the moon is farther away.

Here's the Object Info dialog showing the information about this close approach:     

Good hunting,

Phil S.