Close Approach of 2023 PQ

[PMSchu]

CNEOS predicts that the newly discovered NEO, 2023 PQ, will make a close approach on 2023-Aug-14 11:21±00:29 UT at a distance of 0.00506 AU with V Relative=14.80 km/sec, H=24.9 magnitude, diameter 27 m - 61 m, 'Rarity'=1. The Condition Code=8 with a 1 day observation arc. The Earth MOID=0.00495742 AU. The first reported observation was by MAP, San Pedro de Atacama on 2023-08-10. This orbit should be refined further before close approach.

Using MPC's elements for NEOs at Today's Epoch for 2023 Aug 11 0000 UT, ST4v predicts that this NEO will reach peak brightness of 16.1 magnitude on 2023 August 13 2300 EDT (August 14 0300 UT) at 878.9k km distance moving through Octans at 181"/minute. Close approach (to the nearest hour) is predixcted to occur 2023 August 14 0700 EDT (1100 UT) at 758.6 k km moving through Volans at 234"/minute and 16.8 magnitude. This is a southern hemisphere object. The track looks like it will pass close to the South Celestial Pole (SCP), but in daylight.

Here's the Object Info dialog for this NEO:     

Hopefully the weather will cooperate.

Good hunting,

Phil S.

[Dennis]

Thanks Phil, we have patchy cloud predicted but if it looks good, I'll set up and see if I can grab this guy's portrait.

This is how it looks for my Location, Time, etc.

   

Cheers

Dennis

[Dennis]

It looks like I will be going to bed on the same day that I woke up today, as clouds have rolled in and it looks like they are here to stay.

Dennis

[PMSchu]

Well at least you got your sleep  .

Phil S.

[Dennis]

The skies magically cleared on the night of 13th August 2023 so I set up to record the NEO 2023 PQ.
 
The Info Panel from ST4 Imaging writes that it is a 16.6 mag object.
 
I have included a full frame view, down sampled to 1920 with the red square showing the full res region of the inverted image, to better show the faint trail (3 x 60 sec exposures) as the NEO glided by.
 
At this mag and rate of orbital movement, the NEO just about sprinkled enough photons on the QHY268M camera to record this faint trail.
 
When I set the mount to track on the NEO, it was much more obvious as the stars trailed around it. This is a stack of 2 x 60 sec exposures. I suspect that a satellite may have passed through frame 1 of the 2 frames as this region is well away from aircraft flight paths.
 
Cheers
 
Dennis
 
Tak Mewlon 210 F11.5
Tak x0.8 Reducer/Flattener
QHY268M Camera
Scale: 0.725 arcseconds/pixel
2140mm F10.2
13th August 2023
Brisbane, QLD