Hi MP Hunters,

There hasn't been much happening on the close approach front lately, so I decided to increase the CNEOS Earth Distance parameter (Re) to 0.2 AU to look for some large MPs (H<18). I found (2100) Ra-Shalom that's currently ~0.2 AU distant, H=16.4, 'Rarity'=1. Minimum Re is predicted to be 0.18733 AU on 2022 Aug 31 17:28 ± <00:01 UT. 

ST4v predicts that this NEO will reach a peak brightness of 14.0 magnitude on Sep 2-6. The light curve is very flat. The object is predicted to be brighter than 15.0 magnitude from Aug 16 to Sep 18, so it should already be visible to northern hemisphere observers with medium sized telescopes moving through Andromeda before it moves into Pegasus. The motion is ~5"/min.

Here's an Interactive Atlas chart showing the predicted path from Aug 17 - Sep 19 as seen from Columbus, OH: [attachment=2461]

There should be plenty of time to observe this one & it's quite bright (already predicted 15.1). It won't be quite as bright as (161989) Cacus, but could be a nice warm-up.

Good hunting,

Phil S.

On my desktop copy of SkyTools, I made an attachment folder called "My Sketches" and attached a few sketches I had made recently of Jupiter, Saturn and a few interesting double-stars. 

I shared my %AppData%\Skyhound\SkyTools 4 folder so my laptop could see it and then I tried to synchronize my laptop copy of SkyTools to my desktop copy using Tools > Sync Databases command.

I checked all the boxes (including Attachments) and then selected my SkyTools 4 folder and started the sync. Some kind of error occurred, and the sync operation failed with an error.

Now, my laptop has my observing lists, notes and even the My Sketches folder. But the sketch images didn't come across. I repeated this a few times with no more success.

Two Questions:

1. When you attach an image, is it copied into the %AppData%\Skyhound\SkyTools 4 folders where the sync operation can access it? Or, do I need to share the full path to each image as well?

2. Is this the right way to attach my sketches to the objects I've observed? Over the years, I probably have a dozen Saturn sketches. I was hoping to organize them all in SkyTools so I could see what I've observed on other dates or what I'm likely to see tomorrow.

CNEOS predicts that this NEO will make a close approach on 2022 Aug 20 21:21 ±00:02 UT at a distance of 0.03531 AU (10x 2022 PW). H=22.1, 'Rarity'=1, Condition Code=2.

Using orbital elements from 2022 Aug 9 00:00 UT, ST4v predicts that this NEO will reach a peak brightness of 16.1 magnitude on Aug 18 00:00 EDT when it will be at 0.04 AU moving through Capricornus at 18.5"/min. It's predicted to fade slightly to 16.3 magnitude by Aug 20, again ~00:00 EDT when it will be in Aquila moving at 21.3"/min. Here's an Interactive Atlas chart showing the predicted path of this NEO: [attachment=2457]

This object has been on the CNEOS website for ~1 month with an uncertainty of close approach time of several days. It must have been recently reacquired. They've got it nailed down now, until it gets purturbed.

Happy hunting,

Phil S.

The newly discovered NEO 2022 PW is predicted to make a close approach according to the CNEOS website on 2022 Aug 16 02:32 ±04:13 UT at a distance of 0.00353 AU. H=25.4, 'Rarity'=1, Condition Code=7. The data arc is only 1 day, hence the uncertainty in the time of close approach.

Using osculating elements for 2022 Aug 7 00:00 UT, ST4v predicts that this NEO will reach a peak brightness of 15.5 magnitude on August 15 04:00 EDT when the MP will be moving northeast through Pegasus at 85.9"/min. The moon will interfere, unfortunately. Here's an Interactive Atlas chart showing the predicted path of 2022 PW: [attachment=2456]

Since this NEO was discovered so recently, I'd recommend downloading elements closer to the time of close approach after there have been more observations to refine the orbit. It's still a week away.

I'll post additional information closer to the event as the orbit is refined.

Good hunting,

Phil S.

The iTelescope system is adding a new widefield system - T80 - in Spain. The objective is another 135 mm Samyang camera lens similar to their system in Chile. I don't know how much they'll be charging to use this system. Hopefully this system will be more usable than the one in Chile.

They've announced a webinar to be held this Friday, August 5.[/url]

Here's the link to the info about T80: [url=https://support.itelescope.net/support/solutions/articles/254953-telescope-80?utm_source=iTelescope+Full+List&utm_campaign=e7bfb3a1d2-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2018_11_01_10_38_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_ccda314cde-e7bfb3a1d2-315529421]Telescope 80 : Support (itelescope.net)

Phil S.

Saw this interesting piece out of NASA History - A History of Near-Earth Objects Research.
Light reading for a cloudy night...
https://www.nasa.gov/connect/ebooks/hist...earch.html

I've not found a method to quickly choose a viewing location in ST4. Maybe I'm missing it in the help dialog. Something like a globe/map thingy. Where I can just put my cursor to click a general location.

Check out from your location (especially Phil) on December 7th (early evening), the position of Mars and the Moon. It's going to be a miss for me but farther north and east!!

This newly discovered NEO is predicted by CNEOS to make a close approach on August 4 00:26 ± 00:16 UT at 0.03471 AU distance. H=21.0, 'Rarity'=1, V(Relative)=32.18 km/sec.

Using MPC's orbital elements for 2022 July 28 00:00 UT, ST4v predicts that this NEO will reach a peak brightness of 16.0 magnitude on the evening of August 2-3 as seen from Brisbane, Australia when it will be moving southward through Indus at ~49"/min.

Here's an Interactive Atlas chart showing the predicted path of 2022 OE2 from Brisbane: [attachment=2441]

Hopefully the weather will be good for this event.

Phil S.

CNEOS predicts that the NEO (531944) 2013 CU83 will make a close approach on July 30 23:34±<00:01 UT at a distance of 0.04652 AU. H=21.3, 'Rarity'=1. Using orbital elements for 2022 August 9 0000 UT, ST4v predicts that this Amor class NEO will reach peak brightness of 16.0 magnitude on July 30 at 00:00 EDT at 0.05 AU distance. It will be moving through Scutum at 10.4"/min. It will fade slowly to 16.4 magnitude as it moves into Aquila & Serpens Cauda slowing to 9.38"/min on August 4.

Here's an Interactive Atlas chart showing the predicted path from Columbus, Ohio from July 29 to August 3: [attachment=2439]

This NEO has been on the CNEOs website for quite a while & it's finally arrived. It's not especially bright or fast, but it will stick around for a few days.

Good hunting,

Phil S.