2021-08-14, 04:18 PM
Hi BMD,
Here are the elements that I downloaded from MPC (NEAs at Today's Epoch on Aug 11): [attachment=1979]
Here's the ephemeris calculated for those elements at the Texas Star Party (TSP) location (the closest site I have that's near you): [attachment=1980]
Finally, here's the trail of 2010 CA261 in the IA at the TSP: [attachment=1981]
It's in retrograde motion & really shows the wiggles caused by the earth's rotation. If you can't see it with a 13", something's wrong with the predicted positions. The eccentricity is very low for this MP, but the inclination is 0.327 - pretty high.
I'll try to image it with one of the iTelescopes. So far that hasn't worked very well for me.
Phil S.
Here are the elements that I downloaded from MPC (NEAs at Today's Epoch on Aug 11): [attachment=1979]
Here's the ephemeris calculated for those elements at the Texas Star Party (TSP) location (the closest site I have that's near you): [attachment=1980]
Finally, here's the trail of 2010 CA261 in the IA at the TSP: [attachment=1981]
It's in retrograde motion & really shows the wiggles caused by the earth's rotation. If you can't see it with a 13", something's wrong with the predicted positions. The eccentricity is very low for this MP, but the inclination is 0.327 - pretty high.
I'll try to image it with one of the iTelescopes. So far that hasn't worked very well for me.
Phil S.