CNEOS predicts that the recently discovered NEO 2022 RM4 will make a close approach on 2022-Nov-01 18:28 ± 00:04 UT at a distance of 0.01536 AU. H=19.5 magnitude, V Relative=23.47 km/sec, 'Rarity'=2, Condition Code=6. This is a large one. It was discovered by Pan-STARRS-2, Haleakala on 2022-9-12. The orbit has been repeatedly refined since discovery as the information in the ST4v Object Information dialog shows. The uncertainty of the time of close approach has been reduced from almost 3 days to 4 minutes with the additional observations.

Using the orbital elements from the MPC for epoch 2022 Oct 21 00:00 UT, ST4v predicts that this NEO will reach a peak brightness of 14.4 magnitude on 2022 Nov 1 1400 EDT at a distance of 0.02 AU when it will be moving through Sagittarius at 126.8"/min in daylight as seen from Columbus, Ohio. It's predicted to brighten from 16 magnitude on Oct 29 to 14.7 magnitude on Oct 31, The improved elements have resulted in a reduced predicted peak brightness, unfortunately. I left the predictions from the old Sep 16 elements in the OI for comparison, so be sure to use the ones for Oct 21. I don't expect newer elements to change the predictions much at this point, but if they do, I'll update this post accordingly.

Here's an Interactive Atlas chart showing the predicted path from October 29 - November 1 as seen from Columbus, Ohio: [attachment=2547]

The moon will interfere, unfortunately. As always, parallax will affect the position of the NEO, so make charts for your observing location if you plan to make observations of this object.

Dennis, I didn't calculate an ephemeris for your location, but the close approach time looks good for you. Hope the weather cooperates.

Good hunting all,

Phil S.

Hi Greg,

I successfully connected to all 3 of the iTelescopes in Chile today. Perhaps they've improved the internet connection. Since ST4i doesn't have the information about the T71 & T72 scopes, I downloaded the Telescope Info from their support page.

Here's a link for T71:

https://support.itelescope.net/support/s...lescope-71

The narrowband filter bandwidths are 5 nm.

Here's the link for T72: 

https://support.itelescope.net/support/s...les/254436

No bandwidth given for the narrowband filters here, unfortunately.

Both of these scopes look like real beauties, but T72 is on the pricy side.

Hope this helps,

Phil S.

CNEOS reports that the newly discovered NEO 2022 UG2 will make a close approach on 2022-Oct-21 09:32 ± < 00:01 UT at a distance of 0.00415 AU. H=26.9 magnitude, V relative=10.53 km/sec, 'Rarity'=0 & Condition Code=6. This object was discovered on October 18 by PanSTARRS 2 on Haleakala. This NEO is slightly smaller & will pass farther away than 2022 UC1, so it is predicted to be fainter.

Using MPC's elements for 2022 October 20 00:00 UT ST4v predicts that this object will reach peak brightness of 16.0 magnitude on October 21 0000 EDT at a distance of 656.4k km when it will be passing through Triangulum at 193.1"/min. Predicted minimum distance (to the nearest hour) of 623.2k km occurs at 0500 EDT October 21 when it will be 16.4 magnitude passing through Andromeda at 207.7"/min.

Here is an Interactive Atlas chart showing the predicted path as seen from Columbus, Ohio: [attachment=2546]

Since this NEO will pass very close to earth, parallax will affect the predicted positions of this object. Anyone who wants to observe this object will need to download the orbital elements from MPC & generate their own charts.

The big time MP hunters have been very busy lately. This is one of 37 new NEOs added to the MPC's list of NEOs today. There were >25 yesterday, too.

Good hunting,

Phil S.

CNEOS predicts that the newly discovered NEO 2022 UC1 will make a close approach on 2022-Oct-21 22:46 ± 00:02 UT at a distance of 0.00364 AU. H=26.3 magnitude, V relative=6.77 km/sec, 'Rarity' = 1, Condition Code = 7.  This MP was discovered on October 17 at Pan-STARRS 2 on Haleakala.

Using MPC's elements for October 19, 2022 00:00 UT, ST4v predicts that this MP will reach a peak brightness of 14.8 magnitude on October 21 at 2100 EDT when the NEO will be moving through Aries at 147.4"/min at 553.9k km distance. Close approach (to the nearest hour) is predicted to occur on October 21 at 1900 EDT (2300 UT) when 2022 UC1 will be moving through Pisces at 151.1"/min, 551.2k km distant in twilight as seen from Columbus, Ohio. Unfortunately ST4v predicts that it will not be observable with a 13" telescope under those conditions, but 2000 EDT is possible.

Here's an Interactive Atlas chart showing the predicted position of 2022 UC1 on October 21-22 as seen from Columbus, Ohio. 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. At least we got some warning for this one.

Good hunting.

Phil S.

Earth was just buzzed by the 2 newly discovered NEOs 2022 TQ2 on 2022 Oct 13 and 2022 TM2 on 2022-Oct-15 09:18 ± < 00:01 UT. 2022 TQ2 was discovered on Oct 14 after it's close approach while 2022 TM2 was discovered on Oct 13, but I didn't add it to ST4v's NEAs at Today's Epoch data file until this morning. It wasn't in yesterday's download.

Here's the Object Information data for 2022 TQ2: [attachment=2543]

Here's the Object Information data for 2022 TM2: [attachment=2544]
This was a 'Rarity'=2 close approach.

2022 TM2 was predicted to become quite bright. Too bad there wasn't sufficient warning to observe it.

Phil S.

CNEOS predicts that this Aten class NEO will make another close approach on 2022-Nov-01 02:30 ± 00:04 UT at Re of 0.01515 AU (2266.8k km). H=29.6 magnitude, Vrel=5.25 km/sec, 'Rarity'=0.

ST4v predicts that this NEO will only reach a peak brighnness of 22.7 magnitude on 2022 Nov 4. The light curve is fairly flat so it should retain this brightness for several days - not that it matters much. The interesting thing about this object is that it was discovered last year AFTER it passed within 0.00020 AU (29.3k km) on 2021-Nov-01 10:33 ± < 00:01 UT. It was discovered on November 2. The Earth MOID (Minimum Orbit Intersection Distance) is 0.000141093 AU! 

Here's the Object Information for this NEO: [attachment=2542]

It's not really observable, but I thought that it's neat that this new object has come around for another close pass a year later.

Phil S.

I decided to fool around with the 54 most recently discovered NEAs (Sept 25 - Oct 5) - (2022 SZ10 - 2022 TZ1). I played around with their distance from my location about the mid time of their discovery date (Sept 29 00:00CDT). It was interesting that the closest rock at that time was 2022 TV @301LD and the most distant one was 2022 TN1 @710LD. Geez, these rocks don't hang around long! It's no wonder we are not getting a chance to snag them visually.

I received this question via private email, but I thought others might benefit from my answer, so I am reposting it here:

I own an Obsession 15 inch classic scope.  When I look up Pluto for the date of July 21st 2023 it says that it is undetectable.  To see Pluto I was told that you need a scope that is at least 12 inches or larger.  Why is your software stating that it is undetectable?  Shouldn't your software state that it is detectable? My limiting magnitude for my 15 inch scope is 15.5.

CNEOS predicts that the large NEO (177614) HK33 will make a relatively close approach to earth on 2022-Oct-07 18:34 ± < 00:01 UT at a distance of 0.10255 AU. H=17.7 magnitude, V relative=12.08 km/sec & 'Rarity'=1. The size is estimated to be1-2 km.

ST4v predicts that the peak brightness of 15.2 magnitude will occur from October 13 to 20. Brightness at close approach is estimated to be 15.6 magnitude. The predicted motion is ~8.5"/min at close approach decreasing to ~5"/min after October 22.

This NEO is best observerd from the southern hemisphere (weather permitting). Here's an IA chart showing the predicted path of this NEO from October 11-22 as seen from Brisbane, Australia: [attachment=2537]

I almost forgot to post this one.

Good hunting,

Phil S.

I am reposing below a question I received in a private email so that others could see my answer.

I was viewing over the weekend and decided to do a messier marathon. Using real time it listed the objects in order of the ones that set earlier were first on the list. After further review, about halfway down on the list there were objects that were getting ready to set and the objects that followed were in order of setting as well. It was like there were two lists combined. Being a Real time list it wouldn't let me sort by set time. The question is how are they sorted?. Is there a way to sort by setting time?