I missed a really fast one - 2021 TX that hit 61"/sec motion ~midnight on Oct 2 in Spain!! Minimum Re was 57.96k km. It reached 15.9 mag, too. I've never found one moving this fast. I only noticed it because I misread 2021 TK as 2021 TX in the results of today's MP DBPS. It passed so fast that the searches for Sep 29, & Oct 1&3 didn't find it. It may have been discovered after close approach. According to the entry in the JPL Small Body Database, the first data used was from Oct 2 so it had already passed us.

Win some, lose some.

Phil S.

I have not figured out how to display my finder's FOV circle in the Eyepiece Viewer or in the Interactive Atlas.

In the eyepieces dropdown, it offers the "finding eyepiece" but of course this is not the same, and nearly wide enough to star hop in the finder.

If someone can please tell me how to display this on either chart, I would appreciate it- thanks in advance!

Clear skies,
Paul

I was wanting to have a look at the SkyTools 4 Imaging. Is the only way to do that by purchasing? I'm already a user of 4 Pro Visual. One of the questions I have: are there more gas giant satellites accurately plotted than in the visual version? I did notice that faint moons are plotted for Uranus and Pluto but not Saturn and Jupiter in the Pro 4 visual.

I normally operate remote and use SkyTools4 to schedule via the remote computer. However I also will frequently go to the site and operate direct from there for several days at a time.

I have a second copy of ST4I at the remote site. What is the best procedure for keeping the two in sync with regards to project progress. I understand most or all files are kept in Documents| SkyTools 4 folder. 

Steps I am assuming . . .

1. Initially copy the entire 'home' SkyTools4 Document folder to the remote site computer to get equipment, location and current status of projects.

2. Once observations are complete, copy which files back to 'home' computer to keep in sync and resume imaging from 'home' copy of ST4I??? Do I need to copy everything or just a subset?

Appreciate any guidance on this.

Thanks, Great product!!

Bob

I've been making ephemerides for close pass minor planets using the single MP search feature after getting info online. I tried using the DBPS just now for tomorrow night and came up with a list that does not include rocks from other sources. In particular 2021 RM5 and 2021 RF2. It includes only those below. Even when I broaden the magnitude to put them within reach, they are not included.

   

All of the 2010 rocks listed are from WISE discoveries with no orbits found, and short 10-14 day arcs. Except for 2010 OT146. Not sure where they even come from in the DBPS as I'm unable to find them in any lists of elements at Lowell, JPL or the MPC even after updating the MPC NEA Today and MPC NEA. Also doing a search for 2010 OG150 at https://minorplanetcenter.net/db_search   claims unknown object! I'm just at a loss when using the DBPS. Any guidelines would be helpful.

The fast mover 2021 RG19 is predicted to reach ~16 mag on the nights of Sep 27 & 28 2021. It's moving ~2'/min. 

Here's a screenshot of the path using elements from 2021 Sep 24: [attachment=2018]

I'm currently getting updated elements from MPC & will post a path using elements for today's epoch & a file of elements from HORIZONS at 4 hr intervals.

Hope someone can get a look at it,

Phil S.

I will be attending for the first time this year.  Anyone else going? Any tips?

In case you didn't know...


Begin forwarded message:

Quote:
From: "Chamberlin, Alan B (US 392R)" <achamberlin@jpl.nasa.gov>

Subject: SSD Website Upgrade 2021-Sep-27

Date: 13 September 2021 at 21:40 CST

To: ssd-announce <ssd-announce@jpl.nasa.gov>

Reply-To: "Chamberlin, Alan B (US 392R)" <achamberlin@jpl.nasa.gov>


The SSD website has been significantly upgraded over the past few years with the following goals.

 * improved site navigation designed to make it easier to find content of interest
 * providing new content and tools
 * using APIs behind most tools to allowing direct programmatic access to data
 * improved look using commonly used frameworks supported on the most used browsers

Migration to the upgraded website is planned for September 27, 2021 in the morning (Pacific time).

Most users will not need to take any specific action.  Users with bookmarked URLs to the
current website should be automatically redirected to new corresponding pages.

If you have or use tools that scrape content from the current website, such tools will likely
fail after the migration.  It is important to understand that such tools are not supported.
If you are such a user and are concerned about the implications of the new website,
please let us know what tool(s) you use so we can provide alternative APIs or ideas.

Many new APIs are already available via our API server at https://ssd-api.jpl.nasa.gov/.
Only a few remain to be released and they should be released in the next few days.
A separate announcement will be sent once the remaining APIs have been released.

The new website requires JavaScript. If you use a browser with JavaScript disabled,
you will not be able to use many tools and will not be able to navigate via the menus.
Similarly, if you use a very old browser (e.g., IE8 or earlier), you are also likely
to have trouble using the new tools.  For the vast majority of SSD website users, there
should be no issues with your browser.

Hey Phil, I was looking at some future predictions of rock passes and thought I would mention 2019 XS on November 9. It may be bright enough (H=24, LD=2.5-3), it's well placed (high in south b4 midnight CDT) and moonset is ~10pm. Moving out of Eridanus into Cetus at ~1'/min. It will remain high until 4am on 10th. The position error window appears to be <1min.

It's actually closest to me on Nov. 8, 21:47CDT but below horizon. Predictions indicate it's brightest for me ~06:47CDT Nov 9 but 17° below my horizon.

I've looked at a few others NEOs (2015 TQ21 5 day error box, 2021 RR5 faint, & 2021 RQ9 faint).

From SE Texas, 2021 RS2 on Sept 8, 7UT in Central Cygnus 3.6° NW of Gamma Cygni.  Possibly mag 13 alt 45° 30,497 Km ripping by at 1.4°/min.  If you're cloud free.

By 8UT, the phase angle get seriously bad and altitude drops way below horizon. Plot it with the freshest elements possible