This large (1/3 mile) Aten Potentially Hazardous Asteroid from my location, does not get high enough to trip my wire. For those in the southern hemisphere, it gets high when close and bright (mid 13s). From Sydney, May 7 to 10, it will track through southern Scorpius, thru Norma and into Lupus moving just under 1/2°/hour while remaining in the mag 13s. It remains about 15LD out and just outside our orbit. Good hunting.

Is there a way to convert a comma delimited text list (or spreadsheet or other non-stx file) into an .stx file for import to SkyTools 4 Visual? I have a list of 114 objects in a spreadsheet that I would like to use to create an observing program list and I am a bit daunted by the prospect of entering objects one at a time.

Craig Lamison

The recently discovered NEO 2022 HB is predicted to reach 16.2 magnitude as it passes through Boötes on the nights of Apr 20-23. Here is a ST4v Interactive Atlas chart showing the predicted path: [attachment=2328]

It's predicted to be moving at ~32"/min on the morning of Apr 21, but will slow as it recedes from close approach of 0.03 AU.

Two other objects 2022 HA & 2022 HC were detected after close approach, but both only reached peak estimated brightness of 16.7 magnitude. Close , but no cigar 

Good hunting,

Phil S.

Hi MP Hunters,

Here's another object for the southern hemisphere. While it won't be especially bright or fast-moving, it should be observable from the southern hemisphere. Unfortunately, during the closest approach it's predicted to be in conjunction with the sun, but after close approach, it should be visible at ~15.8 magnitude in Phoenix on May 2. Here's a ST4v Interactive Atlas (IA) chart showing the predicted path from Aukland, NZ: [attachment=2325]

Here's the Object Information: [attachment=2326]

This MP should be visible for several days, weather permitting of course.

Good luck,

Phil S.

For some reason, the Moon does not appear in the "Sun, Moon and Planets" Target List on my home computer, although the Moon's path through the sky is shown on the 24-hour Day-Night graphic.  It does appear on my observatory PC though.  So I must have somehow disabled the Moon from appearing in the Target List.  But I cannot see how I did that.

Yours truly,

Jack Huerkamp

Attached Files

Thumbnail(s)
   

The recently discovered MP 2022 GS3 is predicted to make a close approach to earth. Using elements from the MPC for 2022 Apr 10, the NEA is predicted to reach a peak brightness of 15.3 magnitude. Best visibility is from the southern hemisphere on the evening of Apr 13 & the morning of Apr 14 when it will be moving rapidly through Lupus & Norma. Here's a chart of the predicted path as seen from Aukland Observatory: [attachment=2322]

Maximum motion is predicted to be >100"/min!

I hope you guys get some decent weather for once.
Good hunting,

Phil S.

Hi MP Hunters,

Here's a second MP that's predicted to have a close approach on the morning of Apr 7. It's not quite as bright as 2022 GN1, only predicted to reach 16.6 magnitude which is beyond my 13" scope. Here's the predicted path: [attachment=2315]

It will be moving fast at ~287"/min.

This one is also in Ursa Major. Almost the same place as 2022 GN1 at peak brightness but moving in a different direction.

Again, good hunting,

Phil S.

Hi MP hunters,

The NEA 2022 GN1 is predicted to make a close approach tonight April 5 ~2200 EDT & reach peak brightness of 15.2 magnitude. Here's the predicted path: [attachment=2314]

The elements for the ephemeris were downloaded from the MPC today (NEAs at Today's Epoch). This one is a real screamer, moving at >20"/sec! At a Declination of ~+50 this one is a northern hemisphere object, though.

The waxing crescent moon is about 70° to the west.

Good hunting,

Phil S.

It appears that near April Fools Day we had a couple of small rocks pass inside 1/4 LD.

First rock 2022 GC, missed by 0.147825LD on March 31 2022, 20:47:12. When brightest (14.3), it was below my horizon and had not been discovered yet.

Then 2022 GQ flew by 0.12879LD on April 1 2022, 11:58:17CDT. Again, not yet discovered (inside our orbit). and when outside, too faint for me.

These close pass distances were topo for my location.

These rocks from space, once again show we can get clipped without even knowing it. Cool stuff.

Hi
I entered some brief notes and they displayed ok until I added another target.

The notes still exist but are not displayed with "Show All (read only)" selected.

How do I make them visible in the list without selecting each one and choosing "My Attachments"

thanks
Mick