Can anyone tell me how to take a completed Skytools AL observing program and copy it so that it can be placed in a excel spreadsheet?  I'm attempting to arrange my H2 observations into a spreadsheet format but I have only been able to generate a paragraph-style word document.

I'm guessing this info is somewhere on the forum, but I can't seem to find it...

Thank you!

Jerry Jones

An update has been released for all SkyTools 4 versions. You will be prompted to install the update when SkyTools is started. 

Updates in Version 4.x.11.20 (2026 January 12)

• New version 4.1 feature: the database Power Search for Minor planets now includes an absolute magnitude parameter (H) filter.
  
• New version 4.1 feature: obstructed horizon data can now be written to a text file.
  
• A bug that was fixed that could cause the Attachment Folder selection to not allow a selection to be made.
  
• When started in Nightvision mode (added in version 19), not all of the red parts were initialized properly.
  
• A bug was fixed for coordinate display in decimals, where the entry of a three digit longitude inadvertantly stripped the first character.
  
• A label has been added to the Overhead Sky Chart that describes the zoom level (or field of view).
  
• A bug was fixed that could cause the edit points to disappear when editing an obstructed horizon directly on the Overhead Sky Chart.
  
• The Visual log window text has been made larger for legibility on higher resolution screens.
  
• A bug was fixed that affected the setting of star size in the Preferences for the classic star style, which is often used on printed charts.
  
• Various minor fixes were made.
  

CNEOS predicts that the newly discovered Apollo class NEA, 2025 YH6, will make a close approach on 2025-Dec-30 04:10±<00:01 UT at a distance of 0.01359 AU moving with V Relative=8.96 km/sec, H=23.4 magnitude, diameter 54 m - 120 m and 'Rarity'=1. As of December 28, there was a 1 day observation arc, the Condition Code=7 and the Earth MOID=0.00909197 AU. The solution date was 2025-Dec-28 05:54:44 PST. The initial reported observation was  by ATLAS-MLO, Mauna Loa on 2025-12-27. There were no additional close approaches predicted as of December 29.

Using MPC's orbital elements for the epoch 2025 Dec 28 0000 UT, ST4.1.11.19 Visual Pro predicts that 2025 YH6 will reach a peak brightness of 15.2 magnitude on the evening of 2025 December 30 ~2300 EST with the NEA 0.015 AU distant traveling through Taurus at 46"/minute. The close approach is predicted (to the nearest hour) on 2025 Dec 29 2300 EST (Dec 30 0400 UT) with the NEA 0.014 AU distant traveling through Taurus at 15.6 magnitude and ~53"/minute. This NEA is predicted to be brighter than 16 magnitude from December 29 (in Perseus) to January 2 (in Monoceros).

Here's the object Info data for 2025 YH6:    

Since this NEA will pass close-by, observers should follow the instructions for downloading the most recent orbital elemets as described in the 'Important Threads' posted at the top of this forum section.

Good hunting,

Phil S.

Hello,

I am trying to create an imaging system on SkyTools Imaging for my new smart telescope Vespera Pro to get an idea of the SN ratios for exposures but I am getting very off results. The system is a 50mm f/5 quadruplet with a Sony IMX676 Color CMOS chip. The usual subexposure is 10 sec but can change up to 30 sec but is not recommended because causes tracking problems, the systems basically stacks subexposures and tracks on the fly, and the usual gain 20 even you can manually change it up to 27. I am trying to estimate the ADU for the gain and I think that is what I am doing wrong. I look for information on the chip online and I estimate a 2.3 e/ADU, reading noise of 4 and full well of 74000.

I will appreciate some help figuring out the sensor parameters or if someone else had success creating a imaging system for this or similar telescope let me know that they did.

Clear skies,

Carles

CNEOS predicts that the newly discovered NEA, 2025 XN4, will make a close approach on 2025-Dec-16 00:55±<00:01 UT at a distance of 0.00132 AU moving with V Relative=14.77 km/sec, H=27.3 magnitude, diameter 9.2 m - 21 m and 'Rarity'=1. There is currently a 3 day observation arc, the Condition Code=6 and the Earth MOID=0.00128864 AU. The solution date was 2025-Dec-15 05:24:09 PST. The initial reported observation was by Pan-STARRS 2, Haleakala on 2025-12-12. This approach is about as close as this NEA can get, but still at 0.52 lunar distances away (LD). It's too small to make the MPC's list of Potentially Hazardous Asteroids (PHAs) which requires an H<22 magnitude.

Using MPC's orbital elements for the epoch 2025 Dec 15 0000 UT, ST4.1.11.19 Visual Pro predicts that 2025 XN4 will reach a peak brightness of 14.8 magnitude on 2025 December 15 at 1800 EST (2300 UT) at 224.1k km distant traveling through Camelopardalis at 12.5"/second in twilight in Columbus, Ohio. Close approach is predicted (to the nearest hour) on 2025 December 15@2000 EST (December 16 0100UT) with 2025 XN4 predicted to be 15.4 magnitude traveling through Ursa Minor, 199.7k km distant at 15.6"/second.

Here's the Object Info dialog for 2025 XN4:    

Since this NEA will pass very close-by, observers should follow the instructions in the 'Important Threads' post at the top of this forum section to download the orbital elements for their time of observation.

Good hunting,

Phil S.

CNEOS predicts that the newly discovered Apollo class NEA, 2025 XV, will make a close approach on 2025-Dec-18 03:48±00:02 UT at a distance of 0.01735 AU moving with V relative=9.55 km/sec, H=22.8 magnitude, diameter 75 m - 170 m and 'Rarity'=1. There is currently a 5 day observation arc, the Condition Code=7 and the Earth MOID=0.0164718 AU. The solution date was 2025-Dec-12 05:24:22 PST. The initial reported observation was by ATLAS-TDO on 2025-12-08. The observation arc was extended by observations on 2025-12-6, 7 & 8 by Palomar Mountain--ZTF. The close approach time has changed by -1 minute from December 10 to December 12, but the uncertainty on December 10 was ±00:09.

The orbit is still being refined so observers should check the CNEOS website for the status of this NEA. It's currently predicted to be 16.7 magnitude in Perseus, but it should exceed 16 magnitude on December 14 and reach a peak brightness of 15.1 in Taurus on the night of December 16.

Good hunting.

Phil S.

CNEOS predicts that the kilometer-sized, Apollo class NEA, (220839) 2004 VA, will make a close approach on 2025-Dec-30 23:49±<00:01 UT at a distance of 0.09594 AU moving with V Relative=12.29 km/sec. H=17.4 magnitude, diameter 870 m - 1.9 km and 'Rarity'=1. As of December 7 there was a 8166 day observation arc, the Condition Code=0 and the Earth MOID=0.0233217 AU. The solution date was 2025-Dec-07 05:19:12 PST. This NEA was discovered 2004-11-01 by LONEOS at Anderson Mesa. A closer approach is predicted on 2039-May-03 20:44±<00:01 UT at 0.06096 AU. This NEA is on the MPC's list of Potentially Hazardous Asteroids (PHAs) that you can download using SkyTools.

Using MPC's orbital elements for the epoch 2025 Dec 7 0000 UT, ST4.1.11.19 Visual Pro predicts that (220839) 2004 VA will reach a peak brightness of 15.2 magnitude from December 12 to December 21. On 2025 Dec 16 at 2100 EST it is predicted to be 15.2 magnitude traveling through Cetus at ~6"/minute. Close approach is predicted (to the nearest hour) on 2025 December 30 at 1900 EST (Dec 31 0000 UT) with the MP 0.096 AU distant traveling through Aquarius at 16.7 magnitude and ~11"/minute. It should be brighter than 16 magnitude from November 25 (in Taurus) to Dec 27 (in Aquarius). It's currently a predicted magnitude 15.3 object in Cetus.

Here's the Object Info dialog for (220839) 2004 VA:    

Since the orbit for this object is well defined and the close approach distance is nearly 0.1 AU, MPC's orbital elements should provide accurate positions.

Good hunting,

Phil S.

CNEOS predicts that the recently discovered medium-sized, Apollo class NEA, 2025 WA3 will make a close approach on 2025-Dec-15 21:29±00:09 UT at a distance of 0.02274 AU moving with V Relative=19.40 km/sec, H=20.7 magnitude, diameter 190 m - 420 m and 'Rarity'=2. There is currently a 12 day observation arc, the Condition Code=8 and the Earth MOID=0.00525214 AU. The solution date was 2025-Dec-06 06:32:44 PST. The initial reported observation was by Purple Mountain Observatory, XuYi Station on 2025-11-23. This object is large enough to be on MPC's list of Potentially Hazardous Asteroids (PHAs) that you can download from the MPC using SkyTools. The next predicted close approach is in 2099 at 0.073 AU.

Using MPC's orbital elements for the epoch 2025 Dec 6 0000 UT, ST4.1.11.19 predicts that 2025 WA3 will reach a peak brightness of 14.7 magnitude around midnight EST on 2025 Dec 13 traveling through Aries at 0.030 AU distant and 42"/minute. Close approach is predicted (to the nearest hour) on 2025 Dec 15 1600 EST (2100 UT) with the NEA traveling through Pegasus at 72"/minute and 15.4 magnitude. 2025 WA3 should be brighter than 16 magnitude from Dec 8 in Taurus to Dec 16 in Pegasus. It passes within 0.5 degrees of Aldebaran on 2025 Dec 9 0000 EST (0500 UT) at 15.9 magnitude.

Here's the Object Info dialog for 2025 WA3:    

The orbit for this object is still being refined since there is a 9 minute uncertainty in the time of close approach (still better than the several hours a few days ago). Observers should visit the CNEOS website to check on the status of this NEA.

Good hunting,

Phil S.

Folks might find this article about ancient airbursts similar to Tunguska interesting:

https://scitechdaily.com/scientists-unco...g-craters/

These are the results of some really close approaches that leave no craters (at least not large craters).

Phil S.

CNEOS predicts that the medium-sized, Apollo class NEA, 2007 VM184, will make a close approach on 2025-Dec-01 09:38±<00:01 UT at a distance of 0.03341 AU, moving with V Relative=20.02 km/sec, H=21.1 magnitude, diameter 160 m - 370 m and 'Rarity'=1. As of 2025 Nov 25, there is a 6588 day observation arc, the Condition Code=0 and the Earth MOID=0.0326265 AU. The solution date was 2025-Nov-25 07:34:43 PST. The initial reported observation was by Catalina Sky Survey on 2007-11-12. This object is on the MPC's list of Potentially Hazardous Asteroids (PHAs) that you can download using SkyTools. This close approach is nearly at the MOID. The next approach nearly this close is on 2084-Dec-01 02:48±<00:01 UT at 0.03708 AU.

Using MPC's orbital elements for the epoch 2025 Nov 25 0000 UT, ST4.1.11.19 Visual Pro predicts that 2007 VM184 will reach peak brightness of 15.4 magnitude in the early evening of 2025 Nov 29 when the NEA will be 0.037 AU distant traveling through Camelopardalis at ~40"/minute. The close approach is predicted (to the nearest hour) on 2025 Dec 1 at 0500 EST (1000 UT) with the NEA still traveling through Camelopardalis at 49"/minute and 15.8 magnitude. This NEA is predicted to be brighter than 16 magnitude from Nov 27 (in Auriga) to Dec 1 (in Cepheus).

Here's the Object Info dialog for 2007 VM184:    

The orbit for this object is well defined so the elements provided by the MPC should yield accurate positions.

Good hunting,

Phil S.