These objects are too faint to detect visually, but 4 newly discovered NEOs will make close approaches today & tomorrow. The minimum distances range from 0.00364 AU for 2022 KK to 0.00644 for 2022 KX. The NEOs 2022 KY (0.00541 AU) and 2022 KZ (0.00620 AU) are the other two.

The times for close approach range from May 24 18:21 UT to May 25 19:59 UT.

It's unfortunate none of these are bright enough to be visible.

We missed the close approach of 2022 KG1 which was discovered after its pass on May 22. ST4v predicted a peak brightness of 14.6 magnitude with the best views in Australia & New Zealand. This was a screamer - >20"/sec at 73.7k km.

At least it didn't hit us.

Phil S.

SINCE THIS MAY BE OF INTREST TO OTHERS ON THE FORUM - BELOW IS MY ORIGINAL EMAIL TO SUPPORT:

I am new to Astrophotography and am beginning to use iTelescope. My belief is that the use of Sky Tool 4 Imaging is the best way to plan to make the best use of the subscription fee. I have been able to determine how to set up most items in an plan to be submitted to iTelescope; but am uncertain how to determine the need to select Autoguide for a specific telescope. Is this already selected in the configuration for a telescope and will automatically be set for a plan; or do I need to determine that this needs to be set and manually check to enable? If I need to manually select, any guidance on how to determine if a telescope requires Autoguide would be appreciated.
 
My thanks for an excellent product and I look forward to many fine imaging projects.

AND HERE IS THE EXCELLENT RESPONSE:

Most options are built into the imaging system settings, but Autoguide is one of the exceptions (to enable more flexibility). The best way to determine if a given iTelescope requires the Autoguide selection is to look at the description of the iTelescope on their web site.

Unfortunately this information has been getting harder to find over time (it used to be an obvious top level menu selection), and worse yet, its starting to be placed in multiple places on their system, so finding it can be inconsistent.
 
The most reliable way to find the information for an iTelescope is to log into the iTelescope itself, like you were going to make a reservation or control it. On the top left there is a menu item that reads "Telescope Info."
 
That same info appears to be linked here:
https://support.itelescope.net/support/solutions/161305
 
Once you find the information page you may need to read the operation notes for clues. Also look for a line like this:
 
"*Guiding*: MOAG with Loadstar SX2"
 
This means it has an autoguider and the Autoguide option must be enabled.
 
You can usually get away with assuming that the Autoguide option should be turned on. In almost all cases, if there is no autoguider available, it will simply ignore the command.  But it is safest to o only enable it when necessary. Once you make this selection for a given imaging system on the Scheduler it will remember it for the next time.
 
The ones that don't use autoguiding are generally the Planewave scopes, such as T30, T17, T24, T21, T11, etc. Their mounts are so good that they can track for up to 10 minutes with need to guiding.

How do I import the itelescope Imaging systems into the software.  I cant seem to find this information.  Thanks,  Mike

The CNEOS website reports the close approach (0.00982 AU) at 15:54 UT on 2022 May 22. I wasn't able to download elements for this object from MPC this evening. The H=25.4 & the 'Rarity'=0 so it's probably too faint for visual observation anyway.

Just wanted to alert folks in case someone wanted to give it a try.

Phil S.

Will it be possible to add a feature to "multi-select" items in the Designation Search Tool?

   

A very close approach of two bright asteroids begins in several hours. Although not visible from North America, others will have better luck. Namely, South America, UK and Europe. Best at 00:00 UT, asteroids 240 Vanadis and 233 Asterope may be seen to nearly merge.

Tom Polakis has been imaging these 12th and 13th magnitude rocks for several nights. https://pbase.com/polakis/image/172595509

From my location the minimum separation of these two rocks would be 4.3 arc seconds at 6:04UT on the 13th. But 30+° below my SW horizon.

There will be a total lunar eclipse on the evening of May 15 to the morning of May 16 visible from here in central Ohio. It looks to be a pretty deep eclipse, so the moon may get quite red. First contact is 22:29 EDT with the moon in the SE in Libra at 18° altitude.

Clear skies,

Phil S.

The NEO 2016 WM1 may make a close approach on the night of May 15-16. According to the CNEOS website the time of close approach is May 11 23:25 ±4 days 11:26 hours so who knows. CNEOS used elements of epoch 2016 Nov 22. The elements I used for the SkyTools predictions were downloaded from MPC's NEAs at Today's Epoch for 2022 May 11. I don't know if this NEO has been reacquired again or not. Hopefully, it will be spotted before it makes its next pass. Every day later that the pass occurs decreases the separation between earth & the NEO & a 4-day delay would really close the gap as the ST4v calculations indicate.

Here's the output of ST4v's ephemeris calculations near Columbus, Ohio for this object: [attachment=2378]

I don't know how the MPC converts the 2022 Jan 21 standard epoch for NEOs to the epoch for today's date. I suppose I should investigate that further. If MPC's elements are a better representation of the current orbit than those used by CNEOS, then the ST4v predictions indicate a close approach is coming. 

Unfortunately, the moon will interfere. Greg may get a chance to observe this one at Mesa Redonda though.

Good hunting,

Phil S.

The NEO 2012 UX68 is predicted to make a close approach on 2022 May 15 ±22:16. According to the CNEOS website the close approach distance is 0.00704 AU. Using ST4v the predicted peak brightness of 16.0 magnitude occurs on May 16@1000 EDT when it will be in Octans. The predicted motion is 81.3"/min at that time. This is a southern hemisphere object.

The timing on the pass is pretty wide, ±22 hours, so I don't know if this object has been reacquired on this pass or not. Using elements from the MPC for 2022 May 10 0000, ST4v currently places this NEO in Aries at 20.9 magnitude & 0.02 AU.

This NEO has a 'Rarity' score of 1 on the CNEOS website as do 2008 TZ3 and 2022 JP1. The NEO 2022 JO1 that passed 0.00046 AU distant today rated a 2 & peaked at predicted 14.2 magnitude.

Good hunting,

Phil S.

Hi MP Hunters,

The recently discovered NEO 2022 JO1 makes a VERY close approach on the morning of May 10. Here is the Object Info for this NEO: [attachment=2377]

CNEOS rates the Rarity of this pass as a 2. The close approach distance is 0.00047 AU. This object wasn't in MPC's NEA at Today's Epoch file this morning, I had to download the elements for this object from MPC individually.

Hopefully BMD or Technoking will see this post in time to observe this one as it flies past us. It will be much better from Texas, New Mexico or farther west.

God hunting,

Phil S.