CNEOS predicts that the NEO 2020 DB5 will make a close approach on 2023-Jun-15 02:04±<00:01 UT at a distance of 0.02880 AU with V Relative=9.52 km/sec, H=19.2 magnitude, diameter 380 m - 850 m, 'Rarity'=2. The Condition Code=0 and the Earth MOID=0.0164621 AU. This is a medium sized object with a well defined orbit. The parameters listed by CNEOS haven't changed since Apr 22 so I don't anticipate any further changes to this information before the close approach.

Using MPC's elements for 2023 May 30, ST4v predicts that 2020 DB5 will reach peak brightness of 13.8 magnitude on 2023 Jun 13 2300 EDT at a distance of 0.03 AU when the object will be moving through Centaurus at 26"/min. Close approach (to the nearest hour) will occur on 2023 Jun 14 2200 EDT when this NEO will be 13.8 magnitude still moving through Centaurus at 27.3"/min, too close to the horizon to be visible from Columbus, Ohio. The close approach will be best from the southern hemisphere.

On the evening of 2023 Jun 11, both 2020 DB5 and (488453) 1994 XD will be brighter than 15 magnitude in Virgo and Cepheus, respectively, well placed for northern hemisphere observers. These are both 'Rarity'=2 close approaches, so seeing 2 of these NEOs on the same night, even if not at their maximum brightness, is still very rare.

Here's the Object Info dialog for this NEO: [attachment=2815]

Good hunting,

Phil S.

CNEOS predicts that the newly discovered NEO 2023 HO18 will make a close approach on 2023-Jun-04 17:44±00:06 UT at a distance of 0.00312 AU, V Relative=4.65 km/sec, H=25.1 magnitude, diameter 25 m - 56 m, 'Rarity'=1. Condition Code=7, 35 day observation arc, Earth MOID=0.0030763 AU. This object was first reported observation by Mt. Lemmon Survey on 2023-04-22.

Here's the ST4v Object Info dialog for this NEO: [attachment=2812]

This object is best viewed from the southern hemisphere during close approach, but it is bright enough to be visible on the mornings of June 3 & 4 in the northern hemisphere as well.

Hopefully the orbit will be refined further in the next few days.

Good hunting,

Phil S.

A supernova has been discovered in the bright nearby galaxy M101!

HI Greg 

quick question with reference to the upcoming NINA integration. 

im lucky enough to have 5 scopes and have set them up with there own individual mini PC to control them. With the upcoming Nina integration am i able to install Sky tools 4 on each of them or am i limited to the amount of simultaneous installs. 

i have sent an email for the skytools Beta too. cant wait. This integration made me  switch from Voyager to Nina. 

many thanks 

stu

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: [attachment=2809]

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: [attachment=2774]

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: [attachment=2773]

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.