Close Approach of 2023 DQ

[PMSchu]

CNEOS predicts that the newly discovered NEO 2023 DQ will make a close approach on 2023-Mar-08 07:07 ±  02:59 UT at a distance of 0.01576 AU. H=21.5 magnitude, V relative=22.87 km/sec, 'Rarity' =2, Condition Code = 9.  It's a medium sized object 140 m - 300 m in dimeter. This MP was discovered at MAP, San Pedro de Atacama on 2023-02-23.

Using MPC's elements for February 25 2023 00:00 UT, ST4v predicts that this MP will reach a peak brightness of 14.3 magnitude on March 7 at 1700 EST when the NEO will be moving through Cancer at 109.5"/min at 0.02 AU distance, but in daylight in Columbus, Ohio. Close approach (to the nearest hour) is predicted to occur on March 8 at 0200 EST (0700 UT) when 2023 DQ at 14.5 magnitude will be moving through Lynx at 119.3"/min, 0.02 AU distant. This NEO will be brighter than 15.5 Mag Mar 5@2300 to brighter than 15.9 Mag Mar 8@2300 EST. The Minimum Re time should get better determined in the next few days as more observations are obtained.

Here's an Interactive Atlas chart showing the predicted position of 2023 DQ on March 6 - 8 as seen from Columbus, Ohio:     

This MP is initially best visible from the southern hemisphere, but quickly moves north as it passes.

Good hunting.

Phil S.

[bigmasterdrago]

Thanks for the heads up. Rock is shagging it at 2'/min when close to me ripping thru eastern Gemini. It's very well placed in my evening sky on March 7th and if attempted early, the 99% illuminated Moon is still below the horizon. Even when it rises, it will be 55°+ from the rock. At mag 14.4, it will be a stiff challenge. My 24" is still down for refurbishment so the 13 is my go to scope.

[PMSchu]

CNEOS has revised the close approach time to  2023-Mar-08 07:17 ±  00:09 UT. The Condition Code is still 9 with a 6 day observation arc. This looks like a good one. Hopefully the weather will cooperate.

Phil S.

[Dennis]

Thanks for the heads up Phil, I finally managed to get out and set up once more after months of unfavourable conditions.

Here is a 30 sec exposure of 2023 DQ tracked on the NEO, taken from Brisbane 2023-03-06 11:06 UTC (6th March 2023 at 9:06PM (AEST)). It is the faint, lonely dot towards the centre. There was a 98% Moon just over 30 degrees away flooding the field with moonlight.

I was using the Tak Mewlon 210 F11.5 fitted with the Tak x0.8 Reducer and the QHY268M CMOS camera Binned 2x2.

Using the image scale from the Plate Solve, I calculated the focal ratio to be F10.2, which translates to a focal length of 2142 mm. The Pixel scale is 0.724 arcsec/pixel

Cheers

Dennis

   

   

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Unfortunately, as this was my first session for s few months I was a bit rusty and couldn’t find all the accessories I required, so I had to use a 2” push-fit clamp with a brass collar and 3 set screws to assemble the imaging train (rather than all screw threaded) and I think this assembly micro-shifted during the session so I had a few wobbly trails.

For those who prefer a bit of celestial dynamism, here we have the trail of 2023 DQ, a series of 30 sec exposures just tracking at the Sidereal Rate.

The 98% Moon lurking some 30 dgrees away made the trail quite difficult to dig out of the bright BG.

Brisbane QLD, 2023-03-06 11:15 UTC to 2023-03-06 11:34 UTC

(2023-03-06, 21:15 to 21:34 AEST)

Cheers

Dennis

   

   

[PMSchu]

Thanks for sharing those images, Dennis. They look great, despite the moonlight. The tracking on the MP looks spot on. CNEOS rated this NEO's close approach as a 'Rarity' 2 event which only happens about once per month. There's another 'Rarity' 2 NEO coming in April, (436774) 2012 KY3. It's a southern hemisphere object, so be on the lookout for it.

Phil S.