Close Approach of 2023 EY

[PMSchu]

CNEOS predicts that this newly discovered NEO will make a close approach on 2023-Mar-17 11:39±00:32 UT at 0.00160 AU distance. V Relative= 8.12 km/sec H=26.5 magnitude, 14 m - 30 m diameter, Condition Code =8 and, 'Rarity'=1. It was first observed at ATLAS South Africa, Sutherland on 2023-03-13.

Using elements from MPC for 2023 Feb 25 0000 UT downloaded on March 14, ST4v predicts that this NEO will reach a maximum brightness of 14.5 magnitude on March 17 at 0600 EDT (to the nearest hour), moving through Canes Venatici at 366"/minute. Minimum Re is predicted on March 17 at 0800 EDT when the the NEO will be 246.1k km distant in Bootes moving at 396"/minute in daylight, as seen (or not) from Columbus, Ohio. Early risers in the Mountain time zone will have a shot, weather permitting.

This object wasn't included in today's download of the MPC's NEAs at Today's Epoch datafile, so I had to download it as a single object from the MPC. Unfortunately the epoch for these downloads is the standard epoch, currently 2023 Feb 25 0000 UT. It should be included in tomorrow's datafile, so no worries.

Since this is a new discovery with a 1 day observation arc, the time of close approach should improve in the next few days as the orbit is refined.

Good hunting,

Phil S.

[PMSchu]

CNEOS has updated the close approach for this NEO to 2023-Mar-17 11:35±00:03 UT at 0.00160 AU distance. V Relative= 8.12 km/sec H=26.6 magnitude, 13 m - 29 m diameter, Condition Code =7 and, 'Rarity'=1.

The maximum brightness predicted by ST4v using MPC's elements for 2023 Mar 15 is still 14.5, but now at 0500 on Mar 17, 256.7k km distant moving through Canes Venatici at 356"/min.

Good hunting,

Phil S.