Close Approach of (887) Alinda

[PMSchu]

CNEOS predicts that the kilometer-sized, Amor class NEO, (887) Alinda, will make a close approach on 2025-Jan-08 13:40±<00:01 UT at a distance of 0.08220 AU moving with V Relative=8.25, H=13.8, diameter 4.2 km, and 'Rarity'=3. There is a 106.77 year observation arc, the Condition Code=0 and the Earth MOID=0.0805238 AU. The solution date was 2024-Nov-09 05:21:23 PST. This NEO was discovered in 1918-01-03 by Wolf, M. at Heidelberg. This approach is the closest that (887) Alinda will come to earth for 100 years and it's very close to the minimum distance possible. This is another 'Rarity'=3 event that we've been fortunate to occur recently. Events of this rarity aren't supposed to be this frequent.

Using MPC's elements for 2024 Nov 10 0000 UT, ST4.1.11.14 Pro predicts that (887) Alinda is already 13.0 magnitude at 0.3 AU distance traveling through Eridanus at 37.7"/hour.

I'll provide an update closer to the time of close approach, but this NEO is already quite bright.

Good hunting,

Phil S.

[PMSchu]

Here's the update for the close approach of the kilometer-sized, Amor class NEO, (887) Alinda, predicted by CNEOS on 2025-Jan-08 13:40±<00:01 UT at a distance of 0.08220 AU. As of 2024 Nov 17, there is a 106.79 year observation arc, the Condition Code=0 and the Earth MOID=0.0805238 AU. The solution date was 2024-Nov-17 05:11:28 PST.

Using MPC's elements for 2024 Nov 17 0000 UT, ST4.1.11.14 Visual Pro predicts that the NEO will reach a peak brightness of 9.2 on 2025 Jan 11 when the MP will be 0.08 AU distant traveling through Gemini at ~8"/minute. The light curve is fairly flat. The close approach is predicted (to the nearest hour) on 2025 Jan 8 0900 EST when the NEO is predicted to be 9.4 magnitude traveling through Orion at 8.45"/minute in daylight and below the horizon in Columbus, Ohio.

Here's the Object Info dialog for this NEO:    


Here's the Interactive Atlas chart showing the predicted path of (887) Alinda until early April:    

The orbit of this NEO is well determined and the minimum distance is 0.08 AU, so the predicted path of this object should be close to the path shown on the IA chart above. Of course you'll want much better resolution for your actual observations.

Good hunting,

Phil S.