2023 DZ2

[PMSchu]

I was getting ready to post this:

CNEOS predicts that the newly discovered NEO 2023 DZ2 will make a close approach on 2023-Mar-25 19:31 ±  01:03 UT at a distance of 0.00116 AU. H=23.7 magnitude, V relative=7.79 km/sec, 'Rarity' =3, Condition Code = 8.  It's a medium sized object 48 m - 110 m in dimeter. This MP was discovered at La Palma on 2023-02-27. La Palma made observations from February 27 to March 1 then there were no observations reported until March 16 & 17. The Earth Minimum Orbit Intersection Distance (MOID) is 7.65418E-5 AU. The inclination is only 0.08°.

Using MPC's elements for March 17 2023 00:00 UT, ST4v predicts that this MP will reach a peak brightness of 9.7 magnitude on March 25 at 1400 EDT when the NEO will be moving through Virgo at 466"/min at 191.9 k km distance in daylight and below the horizon as seen from Columbus, Ohio.. Close approach (to the nearest hour) is predicted to occur on March 25 at 1600 EDT when the NEO will be moving through Virgo at 517"/min, 181.8 k km distant and 10.1 magnitude, still in daylight and below the horizon as seen from Columbus. On the evening of March 24 the NEO is already predicted to be brighter than 14 magnitude as it moves through Cancer.

You'll need to download the latest elements for this object as the orbit is being refined. A plot of the object's path shows little loops in the position each day. I think that this is caused by the earth's rotation causing the apparent position of the NEO to shift relative to the background stars.  It's still noticable with the NEO 0.03 AU distant.

The close approach is best visible from Australia/New Zealand, but the NEO should be visible for some time from both hemispheres as it's going to pass close to Regulus and Spica. This event will be visible from Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, etc as well. Are there any SkyTools users from those countries?

Good hunting.

Phil S.

There's still an hour's uncertainty in the time of close approach, so more refining to be done. The arc of observation is 18 days, but it's Feb 28- Mar 1 & Mar 16 -17 so far. There's still a week to go.