Possible Opportunity to Watch Fast Mover

[bigmasterdrago]

2021 LO2 will swing by my yard during the AM hours of 13 June approaching 1/2 lunar distance. The geometry is somewhat poor from my location in SE Texas and it might be at the limit of both my 13" and 24" from my Bortle 4 skies (magnitude 14-15) when up in dark skies (Moon below horizon). Plus, for me, when brightest and fastest (7.8 arc min/minute), it will be daylight and below the horizon. Use ST4 to check for your location. Best time for me would be 6 UT.

[PMSchu]

Hi BMG,

Here's how it's predicted to look from Columbus OH on the morning of the 13th: [attachment=1794]

It's just barely visible in the 13.1" scope (note that the finder for this scope has a 90­° star diagonal). I just downloaded the latest elements from the MPC. You should have a shot using your 24" scope.

It's really moving fast, good luck!

Phil S.

[razvan]

I was about to ask how can one find out about fast movers at a given time but then noticed the Database Power Search in ST already has a filter by apparent motion. So thank you Greg for implementing this, I'll start using it.

[PMSchu]

Hi razvan,

I just tried using the DBPS looking for fast moving MPs. My MP database was updated today, from the MPC (MPCORB), Bowell (ASTORB) and the MPC's NEOs at today's epoch. A DBPS of MPs >30"/min found 5 objects, but a search of MPs >10"/min found 32,767 objects. It's also interesting that none of the group of 5 MPs included the one that BMG posted about upthread. On 2021 Jun 13, 2021 LO2 moves at 132"/min, but on 2021 Jun 11 it's only moving at 6.4"/min.

Many of the MPs moving faster than 10"/min are main belt objects, so not close at all.

It seems that a search based on rate of motion is very sensitive to the time for which you perform the search. You'll really want to keep your MP database up to date too, especially for the NEOs.

I apologize if you're already aware of this,

Phil S.

[bigmasterdrago]

Where do I find the DBPS? I'm old and must be getting blind as I find all kinds of help navigating inside the Tool. Nowhere have I found how to get to the Tool.

[PMSchu]

HI BMD,

In the Nightly Planner, Clk the 'Add Objects' box. The Database Power Search (DBPS) is the second entry.

Phil S.

[razvan]

[...]
It seems that a search based on rate of motion is very sensitive to the time for which you perform the search. You'll really want to keep your MP database up to date too, especially for the NEOs.

I apologize if you're already aware of this,

Phil S.

Thanks for the tip, Phil, I wasn't aware of it. Much appreciated.