Hi MP Hunters,

I just noticed the 'Rarity' column on the JPL's CNEOS website here:

NEO Earth Close Approaches (nasa.gov)

Here's the description of 'Rarity': 

Rarity
A measure of how infrequent the Earth close approach is for asteroids of the same size and larger: 0 means an average frequency of 100 per year, i.e., roughly every few days or less, 1 corresponds to roughly once a month, 2 to roughly once a year, 3 to roughly once a decade, etc. 'n/a' means that a frequency estimate is not available. See note for details.

This is the link from the Note:
https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.38...c3519/meta


It seems like we're fortunate to have several '1's & '2's in May & June.

This is a neat concept. The article describing the method lists the pass of Apophis as a 6.

Phil S.

Hi MP Hunters,

The NEO (388945) 2008 TZ3 is predicted to make a close approach in the next few days. ST4v predicts its current brightness as 16.4 magnitude at 0.06 AU in Leo, so it's a large one (160 - 490m). Predicted peak brightness is 16.2 magnitude around May 10 at 2200 EDT at 0.04 AU in Sextans. Since it isn't coming very close the brightness won't spike during the pass. The moon will interfere, unfortunately.

Another NEO, 2012 UX68 will be observable from the southern hemisphere several days later. While it's currently 0.05 AU distant, it's only 22.3 magnitude. It will brighten as it approaches. More about this one later.

Good hunting,

Phil S.

I hope someone can help.  I am trying to set the software as best as I can.  The area that seems to elude me is filters, as the filters I have are not listed, I attempted to find these filter files, and next I attempted to create one.  That ended up in about 2 hours of frustration.

What is up with filters, where can I get filter data?  The filters I have I cannot imagine are not uncommon.

For example.
Triad Ultra Quad.
My Ha OIII filter
My SI Filter

For some reason I'm not seeing SN2022hrs in my Current Novae and Supernovae nor in my Current Bright Novae and Supernovae lists. Fortunately, I know where it is so I'll be able to find it when I'm out observing. Much dimmer SNs are showing so I don't think it's my settings. Anyone else have this issue?
Fred

This big 100+ meter rock was first spotted April 9. It has been watched over 2 weeks with only 17 observations by Spacewatch, Pan-STARRS and Table Mountain. It appears to be heading for a close approach of ~3LD on ~June 12. For me, it will be out of range (16th mag). It also will have poor observing conditions as either moonlight, twilight, or daylight. Also, its phase % is poor. Thought it might be of interest to some for its size alone and recent discovery. Speed at close approach ~85"/sec moving thru Cepheus in the early morning hours of June 12.

Hi MP Hunters,

The recently discovered NEO 2022 HB1 is predicted to reach peak brightness of 15.9 magnitude ~1600 EDT on April 26 when it will be in Pyxis . It's going to be a fast mover. Here's a ST4v Interactive Atlas (IA) chart showing the predicted motion from Brisbane, AU: [attachment=2332]

It won't be quite as bright while in Crater at 16.4 magnitude, but it will be dark. Morning twilight interferes for locations further east, sorry George.

Good luck & clear skies,

Phil S.

I have been unable to simulate this image taken by Hubble of the shadow of Ganymede transiting the GRS.
What do I need to do different than normal settings?

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/...-here.html

On the Australian Astronomy Forum “Ice In Space” a forum member has posted that Iapetus will transit Saturn for the first time in 15 years. The event will start at around 4am (EST) on April 30 and continue until dawn, as viewed from Australia. (UT 29-04-2022 1800)

However, when I look at this event in SkyTools 4, location Brisbane, the transit is shown in daylight at around 11:40am on April 30th (EST) (UT 30-04-2022 0140)?

Some replies to the post appear to confirm the 4:00am time using other planetarium programs?

Can anyone suggest a method of how I can verify the “truth”?

Thanks

Dennis


   

I have never seen this happen before, but when I imported one of the Texas Star Party observing lists (.stx file), all of the Rise/Transit/Set and Begin/Best/End times are all wrong. They are not even close. I have checked my location settings, time zone, etc., but I must be missing something here. Most of the Begin/Best/End times are all during the day. Any idea what is causing this? I have SkyTools 4 Visual Standard.

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This huge rock (1.8Km) passes just 10LD out the last week of May. It will spend 3 days hovering around 11-12 magnitude. Best view for me falls on the late night of May 24th when this rock is fairly high in Virgo, moving ~1/2°/hr. Closest approach comes for my location when the rock is 71° below my southeast horizon while mag 12 at 14:25UT on May 27th. Southern guys take note.