Close Approach of 2 Rarity 2 Events

[PMSchu]

CNEOS predicts that 2 Rarity=2 close approaches will occur in the next 2 weeks. 2018 UY on 2023-Jul-12 15:58±<00:01 UT at a distance of 0.01904 AU, V Relative=16.38 km/sec, H=20.8 magnitude and diameter 180 m - 410 m. This orbit is well defined.

The recently discovered NEO 2023 MG6 is predicted to follow 4 days later on 2023-Jul-16 21:39±00:38 UT at a distance of 0.02432 AU, V Relative=12.37 km/sec, H=20.5 magnitude and diameter 210 m - 470 m. Currently the Condition Code for this object is 9 with an observation arc of 4 days, so the time of close approach should become more accurate in the next few days.

It's very unusual to have 2 NEOs this large make close approaches within ~4 days although they are 7.4 and 9.5 lunar distances (LD) distant at close approach. God space is big. Neither of these objects has come within the 0.05 AU threshold that I use when looking for bright close approaches, but ST4v predicts that 2018 UY will reach maximum brightness of 14.8 magnitude on July 13.

I'll post an update as more accurate information becoms available.

Phil S.

[bigmasterdrago]

Thanks for the heads up. Nice catch. The big rocks pass just 12° apart on the early evening of the 13th. Unfortunately, both of these big rocks look very poorly placed for attempting from SE Texas during brightest pass. UY never plays above my horizon.

July 16 16:30 for MG6 @mag 13.9. Although at 4:30CDT MG6 does sneak up to altitude 27° (16th), 44° (17th), & 59° (18th) while hovering in the bright 14s. My southern sky is heavily light polluted, so mag 14 is out of reach. With 4 days of obs, things could change as the geometry improves with less moonlight.

[PMSchu]

Apparently there haven't been any captures of 2023 MG6 since 2023 Jul 3 so the observation arc remains 4 days and the Condition Code remains 9. It's now supposed to be in Octans.

Help us Dennis, you're our only hope! 

Maybe George in New Zealand will catch a break in the weather & be able to have a go at this one. ST4v predicts that it will peak at 14 magnitude in Aquarius on 2023 Jul 17 0400 EDT (0900 UT), but the light curve is flat so the time isn't too critical. This NEO is an Amor class object.

Phil S.

[Dennis]

Apparently there haven't been any captures of 2023 MG6 since 2023 Jul 3 so the observation arc remains 4 days and the Condition Code remains 9. It's now supposed to be in Octans.

Help us Dennis, you're our only hope! 

Maybe George in New Zealand will catch a break in the weather & be able to have a go at this one. ST4v predicts that it will peak at 14 magnitude in Aquarius on 2023 Jul 17 0400 EDT (0900 UT), but the light curve is flat so the time isn't too critical. This NEO is an Amor class object.

Phil S.

Hi Phil

I'm currently flat on my back with a nasty dose of flu, (it's winter down under, our flu season) and the weather forecast for the next few days looks pretty ropey.

However, if the skies are clear, I'll take one for the team and set up to grab an image.

Cheers

Dennis

[PMSchu]

Hi Dennis,

You know, I meant to put, "No Pressure" on that message, but thought, "Nah, that's not necessary." I should learn to trust the subconscious more, it seems to know stuff  .

There have been some additional observations of 2023 MG6 on 2023 Jul 12 and the observation arc has been extended to 13 days. The time of close approach changed by 1 minute and the uncertainty has been reduced to ±1 minute.

Using MPC's elements for 2023 Jul 12 0000 UT, ST4v predicts that this NEO will be brighter than 16 magnitude through Jul 22 when it will be in Pegasus at Declination +33°. That should give you some time to recover.

Here's the Object Info dialog for 2023 MG6:     

Hope that you're feeling better soon.

Good hunting,

Phil S.

[bigmasterdrago]

I was tracking this rock and was wondering why there had been no obs from July 4 to the 12th. And now 7 additional obs by small scopes in New Zealand under the auspices of the science facilities of the University of Canterbury. Is Octans inaccessible by the big boys? The rock has spent the last week tripping thru it at mag 16ish. Maybe there was little need as it remained in a dark sky and only moved about 25°.

[Dennis]

Hi Dennis,

You know, I meant to put, "No Pressure" on that message, but thought, "Nah, that's not necessary." I should learn to trust the subconscious more, it seems to know stuff  .

There have been some additional observations of 2023 MG6 on 2023 Jul 12 and the observation arc has been extended to 13 days. The time of close approach changed by 1 minute and the uncertainty has been reduced to ±1 minute.

Using MPC's elements for 2023 Jul 12 0000 UT, ST4v predicts that this NEO will be brighter than 16 magnitude through Jul 22 when it will be in Pegasus at Declination +33°. That should give you some time to recover.

Here's the Object Info dialog for 2023 MG6: 

Hope that you're feeling better soon.

Good hunting,

Phil S.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Hi Phil

All is good and no worries Phil, you are one of the good guys.

There is absolutely no pressure on me. If I am well enough and the weather is good I would be very happy to set up, that choice and responsibility is mine and I will own it.

I enjoy your posts, so please keep on doing the same old same old

Thank you for your kind thoughts and please don't change your approach, all is good.

Cheers

Dennis

[PMSchu]

I was tracking this rock and was wondering why there had been no obs from July 4 to the 12th. And now 7 additional obs by small scopes in New Zealand under the auspices of the science facilities of the University of Canterbury. Is Octans inaccessible by the big boys? The rock has spent the last week tripping thru it at mag 16ish. Maybe there was little need as it remained in a dark sky and only moved about 25°.

The South Celestial Pole (SCP) is in Octans and this NEO spent July 4-12 passing through that constellation. Tracking of minor planets so close to the SCP may be difficult for the scopes normally used to detect MPs. It seems odd that they couldn't track near the poles though. Maybe the moon was a factor.

Phil S.

[Dennis]

ST4 shows 2023 MG6 just a short distance from Saturn as viewed from Brisbane UTC: 2023-07-17T16:36:23Z.

The NEO is just a camera FOV away, but unfortunately, the weather forecast does not appear to be very favourable.  

Cheers

Dennis

   

   

[PMSchu]

Close, but no cigar, as they say.

Phil S.