CNEOS predicts that the newly discovered NEO 2023 BU will make a close approach on 2023-Jan-26 21:17 ± 02:22 UT at a distance of 0.00007AU. H=29.3 magnitude, V relative=9.33 km/sec, 'Rarity' = 2, Condition Code = 7.  This MP was discovered at MARGO, Nauchnij on 2023-01-21.

Using MPC's elements for February 25 2023 00:00 UT, ST4v predicts that this MP will reach a peak brightness of 16.1 magnitude on January 25 at 1800 EST when the NEO will be moving through Sagittarius at 14.2"/sec at 36.0k km distance. Close approach (to the nearest hour) is predicted to occur on January 25 at 1800 EST (2300 UT) when 2023 BU at 16.1 magnitude will be moving through Sagittarius at 14.2"/sec , 36.0k km distant but below the horizon as seen from Columbus, Ohio. Unfortunately ST4v predicts that it will not be observable with a 13" telescope under those conditions.

The Minimun Re occurs in daylight or twilight or the MP is below the horizon for North & South America, Europe & Australia so not a good shot at viewing it. It is getting very close though.

Since this NEO will get very close, parallax will affect the predicted positions, so you'll need to make charts for your location to get accurate positions for this object. Also, elements closer to the current date should be in the MPC's NEA datafile tomorrow. The elements for Feb 25 may reflect the earth's perturbtions on the orbit of this object, hence the difference between the CNEOS & ST4v predictied close approach time.

Good hunting.

Phil S.

Greg, have you implemented a way to grab & drag or a tool to rotate the FOV while having it displayed on the screen in an Interactive Atlas? I'm using Pro visual 4.0j R21.

Most, if not all the other astro applications I've used have some method to rotate the displayed (move the cardinal directions) chart so that N&E are pointing elsewhere. So that if I have a line of objects running from corner to corner, I can get them oriented left side to right side.

This comet currently has a broad stubby dust tail. But it also has a faint thin ion tail that is much longer. It takes a full physical simulation and some serious computing power to predict the position and distribution of the dust tail, which is currently beyond what SkyTools can do. But it can predict the position of the ion tail, which always points away from the sun.

When I get the chance to have a look myself, I'm going to try to detect the ion tail and see how far I can follow it. Binoculars may be best for this. I will look at it in the direction that SkyTools draws the tail on the charts. It may be too faint to detect, but it may also be that people are just missing it. If you manage to see it, please post here!

Hi Greg,

I've been running ST4v & ST4i on my desktop, but would like to install those programs on my wife's laptop so I can access ST4 when we travel. I have the original ST4i installation media (from 2018) & several copies of the ST4 Setup file in my Downloads folder (newest is dated 9-8-21). The more recent updates were done when a new version of SkyTools was released. The update was done by SkyTools itself. The original media is only for ST4i, but I now have the bundle.

My question is: how can I get the correct Install File onto the laptop & once the install is complete, how do I get the 2 copies Synced? I've seen other threads where you've recommended using a Backup -> Restore to load the second device with the data from the original device.

TIA,

Phil S.

The LONG period(?) comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) is predicted to become visible to the naked eye in late January - early February. ST4v currently estimates the brightness at 7.1 magnitude in Corona Borealis in the morning. Some estimates have the period as ~50,000 years. The NASA JPL Small Body Database lookup page lists the eccentricty (e) as 1.000270488706647±7.7609E-7, so a slightly hyperbolic orbit & not really periodic.

Here's ST4v's description of the naked eye visibility of the comet:

"C/2022 E3 (ZTF) will reach perihelion in mid January. On January 12 this comet will pass within 0.3 AU of the earth. It is predicted to reach maximum brightness of magnitude 5 in late January. The best visibility from Darby Creek 2 near maximum brightness is predicted to be in late January when it will be approximately magnitude 5. On February 1 this comet will be moving quickly across the sky at a peak rate of 16.6 "/min PA 211.2°. Note that future predictions of magnitude and visibility are subject to the unpredictable nature of these objects."

This is a northern hemisphere object as it will pass through Draco & Ursa Minor. Information about this comet is in the Current Comets Observing List for 2023 January.

Good hunting,

Phil S.

The Minor Planet Center (MPC) has reported the first 2 MPs of 2023, the NEOs 2023 AA & 2023 AB. Neither one was listed as approaching within 0.05 AU on the CNEOS website.

Phil S.

Here's a description of another spacecraft system designed to detect NEOs from the L2, L4 & L5 LaGrange points:

Breakthrough for Finding Asteroids and Tracking Space Debris | NextBigFuture.com

It uses a cluster of 30cm telescopes & special software that looks similar to the Tycho Tracker software that can stack signals from moving objects to gain the benefits of multiple exposures to increase SNR.

Phil S.

This large NEO (0-1 km) is predicted to make a close approach during early February 2023. ST4v predicts that this object will reach  a peak brightness of 13.4 magnitude on 2023 Feb 14 when it will be  in Antlia moving at 39.7"/min.

This will be a good object for southern hemisphere observers. I'll post more information closer to the end of January.

Phil S.

This is not an especially close pass, but because of its size and well known orbit, thought I would mention it. Using the Horizons osculating elements for Feb 2, I ran an ephem for the 4.7LD pass 2023-Feb-03 08:51UT. From my location, it is near 15th magnitude fairly high in my SE light polluted sky moving ~1'/min.

The interesting point is that it is much higher and brighter (14.4) on Feb 1 @03:00CST moving thru Sextans and then again high and bright on the Crater/Virgo/Corvus border, next day, same time. This is due to phase angle improvement.

The big rock continues back into Virgo as it dips below my horizon and fades as the phase angle plummets. Then back up in the predawn of close pass on the 3rd but dim. Track below.

   

Here's a website that can simulate the effects of an asteroid impact:

Neal.fun

Click on the link & select 'Asteroid Launcher'.

In case one gets too close.

Phil S.