I have been working with the finder chart for M11. I have my chart settings the way I like them when viewed on the screen (naked eye, finding device, and eyepiece) but when I print the chart there are 3 rectangles that print on and near the M11 image in the eyepiece view.

Questions:

What do the rectangles represent?
How do I get rid of them in the printout?

Thank you,
Jon

This Apollo class rock from space discovered March of 2018 at Pan-STARRS makes a pass over the top at a distance of 2.7LD at mag 16.1. This is on the evening of Sept 25, ripping at 4 arc minutes per minute out of Cepheus, through Andromeda and into Pegasus b4 morning twilight on the 26th. It brightens somewhat to mag 15.5 as the phase angle improves b4 morning twilight ruins the view.

Looking back a little over 100 years there is not a random passing of NEOs under 0.5LD. The peak seems to occur in late March and late September, near the equinoxes. Any thoughts on if this is just a selection disguised by the larger number of observatory (surveys) that have good access to the ecliptic?

CNEOS predicts that this large (0.66-1.5km) NEO will make a close approach on 2022 Sep 11 15:52±<00:01 UT at a distance of 0.07963 AU. H=18.0, 'Rarity'=1, Condition Code=0.

Currently my ST4v is in the shop so I'm unable to calculate an ephemeris for this object. The distance & H are similar to Didymos that I posted about several days ago, so the brightness may be similar as well.

Since this object is an NEO, anyone interested in calculating an ephemeris for this object only needs to download the MPC's data file 'NEAs at Today's Epoch' using SkyTools to get the most recent orbital elements. There are currently ~29k NEOs known. Processing is much faster than for the full MPCORB.

If this NEO does look like a bright one, I'd be interested in knowing where it's going.

Good hunting,

Phil S.

Hi, is it possible to export the obstructed horizon line, I ask, because I want to use the same in line in e.g. stellarium,
Thanks for the help.

I'm so tired of this cloudy weather, that I took a look rather far into the future.

Found an interesting rock not at CNEOS yet. 2005 LW3, H=21.62, 125-280 meters, 3LD pass couple days b4 Thanksgiving, possibly mag 13.4, max speed 148"/min in south. Uncertainty 0! Recently observed by Spacewatch this last April.

Very well placed for me (and Phil) on Nov 23 just after end of astronomical twilight moving 1.6'/min, 78° up in Pegasus. No Moon issues.

Taking bets on the weather??

CNEOS predicts that this newly discovered NEO will make a close approach on 2022 Sep 5 23:06 ±<00:01 UT at at distance of 0.00751 AU. H=23.1, 'Rarity'=2, Condition Code=6. The initial observation was made on August 31.

Using MPC's elements for 2022 Sep 4 00:00 UT, ST4v predicts that this object will reach a peak brightness of 15.3 magnitude on Sep 5 at 2100-2200 EDT when it will be moving through Ophiuchus at 122.9"/min. At the time of close approach it is predicted to be moving at 123.5"/min in daylight still at 15.3 magnitude. It's also observable with a 13" scope on the night of Sep 4 from 2200 - Sep 5 0100 EDT when it's predicted to be moving through Hercules at ~80"/min and ~16 magnitude.

Here's an Interactive Atlas chart showing the predicted path during close approach as seen from Columbus, Ohio: [attachment=2498]

Good hunting,

I have a Dobson mounted scope and certain elevation angles are not comfortable for me- I would like to filter a list for a specific window of time by a range of telescope angles . For instance: objects that can be viewed with the scope angle between 45 and 70 degrees between 10:00p and 11:30p on a specific night. Any suggestions?

Thank you,
Jon Reck

Hello,

I recently released six new videos for SkyTools Visual Real Time. The Real Time tool is meant to be used out in the field, at the telescope. Its purpose is to make observing simple and efficient. You may be surprised how easy it is to use once you get used to the idea, and especially how well the on-screen finder charts work.

I have spent the last year working on improving and simplifying the Real Time tool in many small ways, in both the Best Now and Sky Tour modes. If you have tried this tool and got lost, became frustrated, or ran into bugs, now is the time to give it another try.

Why six videos? Real Time is meant to be used at the telescope, but people observe in many different ways. The three main ways to observe with SkyTools at the telescope are: a GOTO telescope connected to SkyTools, Digital Settings Circles, and using on-screen finder charts.

Real Time also has two different modes: Best Now and Sky Tour. To cover each of these combinations requires six different videos.

The idea is to find the workflow video for the mode you want to use that matches how you observe most closely and then watch that video. It will take you through the process of building an observing list meant for a use on a specific night, and then using that list in the Real Time tool.

What is the difference between the two modes?

The Best Now mode allows the most flexibility. It presents a list of objects sorted such that the best ones to observe right now are sorted to the top. Using this mode can be as simple as pressing the Enter key on your laptop/tablet every time you are ready for a new object.

The Sky Tour mode is the most efficient way to observe, and is best for when you are doing a large project, such as observing all of the objects for an AL award, and is also useful for attempting a Messier Marathon.

The tutorial videos are here:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL...klh_SrnQzr

There is a new tutorial that describes how to get the most of out Night Vision mode coming soon, and I hope to release a quick tip video once per week thereafter, alternating between SkyTools Visual, and SkyTools Imaging.

Let me know what you think, and what video tutorials you would like to see next, and be sure to ask any questions you may have!

CNEOS predicts that this NEO will make a close approach on 2022 Oct 4 09:48±<00:01 UT at a distance of 0.07123 AU. H=18.2, 'Rarity'=1, Condition Code=0. It's ~0.78 km across.

ST4v predicts that this NEO will reach a peak brightness of 14.7 magnitude from Sep 22-29 at 0.08-0.07 AU distance moving at ~5.4"/min. At close approach the motion will increase to 6.6"/min.

Here's an Interactive Atlas chart showing the predicted path from August 28 to October 17: [attachment=2481]

The position ephemeris using MPC's elements for 2022 Aug 28 0000 UT for Columbus, Ohio is attached below. This object is better observed from the southern hemisphere.

This NEO is the target of NASA's DART mission to deflect an asteroid, Didymos's moon, Dimorphos, by impacting it with a spacecraft.
NASA's asteroid-deflecting test mission is just 1 month away from impact | Space

Good hunting,

Phil S.