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Mutual Events of Galilean Satellites

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 12:27:50 -0400

I've not yet found a method to predict these in the Event Finder. Years ago I used Occcult for this but no longer. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Kenneth Drake

Close Approach of 2026 KB1

Fri, 29 May 2026 14:23:08 -0400

CNEOS predicts that the recently discovered Apollo-class NEA, 2026 KB1, will make a close approach on 2026-Jun-01 23:35±<00:01 UT at a distance of 0.02620 AU moving with V Relative=13.51 km/sec, H=22.1 magnitude, diameter 99 m - 220 m and 'Rarity'=1. As of 29 May there is a 10 day observation arc, the Condition Code=8 and the Earth MOID=0.0229246 AU. The solution date was 2026-May-29 06:48:42 PDT The initial reported observation was by ATLAS Chile, Rio Hurtado on 2026-05-19. With an absolute magnitude (H) just above 22.0 magnitude, this NEA is too small to make the MPC's list of Potentially Hazardous Asteroids (PHAs) that you can download using SkyTools. No future close approaches have been predicted.

Using MPC's orbital elements for the epoch 2026 May 29 0000 UT, ST4.1.11.20 Visual Pro predicts that 2026 KB1 will make a close approach (to the nearest hour) on 2026 June 1 at 2000 EDT (June 2 0000 UT) traveling through Aquila at 15.8 magnitude and 43"/minute, but in daylight and below the horizon in Columbus, Ohio. Peak brightness of 15.6 magnitude occurs on the evening of May 31 and the morning of June 1 with the MP 0.027 AU distant traveling through Scutum at ~40"/minute. The full moon will interfere with observations of this NEA, unfortunately.

Here's the Object Info dialog for 2026 KB1:
Object Info for NEA 2026 KB1 (2026 June 1 2000 EDT).jpg (Size: 193.03 KB / Downloads: 1)

Good hunting,

Phil S.

Close Approach of 2026 KT2

Tue, 26 May 2026 13:33:43 -0400

CNEOS predicts that the newly discovered Apollo-class NEA, 2026 KT2, will make a close approach on 2026-May-28 12:42±00:06 UT at a distance of 0.00523 AU moving with V Relative=11.52 km/sec, H=23.6 magnitude, diameter 51 m - 110 m and 'Rarity'=2. As of May 26 there is a 1 day observation arc, The Condition Code=8 and the Earth MOID=0.0039495 AU. The solution date was 2026-May-26 06:17:33 PDT. The initial reported observation was by MAPS, San Pedro de Atacama on 2026-05-24 the same group that discovered the comet MAPS. This object is too small to make the MPC's list of Potentially Hazardous Asteroids (PHAs) that you can download using SkyTools. There aren't any future close approached predicted yet.

Using MPC's orbital elements for the epoch 2026 May 26 0000 UT, ST4.1.11.20 Visual Pro predicts that 2026 KT2 will reach a peak brightness of 14.0 magnitude on the morning of May 28 traveling through Bootes at ~170 "/minute. Close approach is predicted (to the nearest hour) on 2026 May 28 at 0900 EDT (1300 UT) with the MP still traveling through Bootes at 14.0 magnitude and 182"/minute, but in daylight and below the horizon in Columbus, Ohio. The moon will interfere with observations on the night of May 26-27.

Here's the Object Info dialog for 2026 KT2:
Object Info for NEA 2026 KT2 (2026 May 28 0900 EDT).jpg (Size: 162.32 KB / Downloads: 0)

The orbit is still being refined for this object, so observers should follow the instructions in the "Important Thread" posted at the top of this forum section for instructions on downloading orbital elements for fast changing orbits.

Good hunting,

Phil S.

NASA's Psyche Mission Had its Close Approach to Mars

Thu, 21 May 2026 18:55:01 -0400

NASA’s Psyche spacecraft completed its close approach of Mars on May 15, coming within 2,864 miles (4,609 kilometers) of the planet’s surface.

Here's a link to an article describing the Psyche mission:

https://www.nasa.gov/missions/psyche-mis...-asteroid/

Hope you find it interesting,

Phil S.

Close Approach of 2026 KB

Sun, 17 May 2026 12:21:00 -0400

CNEOS predicts that the recently discovered small Apollo-class NEA, 2026 KB, will make a close approach on 2026-May-18 15:15±< 00:01 UT at a distance of 0.00155 AU.

Using MPC's orbital elements for the epoch 2026 May 17 0000 UT, ST4.1.11.20 Visual Pro predicts that this MP will reach a peak brightness of 15.0 magnitude on May 18 at ~0800 EDT (1300 UT) at a distance of 260.7k km traveling through Hydra at 390"/minute, but in daylight and below the horizon in Columbus, Ohio.

This object will be best viewed from the southern hemisphere.

Good hunting,

Phil S.

Jupiter Entry in June 15th Observing List

Wed, 13 May 2026 09:55:00 -0400

Hello All,

Christina LeGrand here. I am building an observing list for the June new moon, and have a question. Jupiter is included in this observing list. However, the resulting Sky Tools entry in the observing list for Jupiter shows 4:26 PM as being the "Best" time to view it. It also shows 9:35 AM as the "Begin" time for observing this object. I don't remember seeing results like this before. Has something changed, or do I need to do something differently? I use the Best and Begin column for sequencing the objects to view.

Thank you for any info or ideas.

Christina LeGrand

Close Approach of 2026 JH2

Tue, 12 May 2026 14:14:36 -0400

CNEOS predicts that the small Apollo class NEA, 2026 JH2 will make a close approach on 2026-May-18 21:23±06:16 UT at a distance of 0.00061 AU moving with V Relative=9.17 km/sec, H=26.1, diameter 16 m - 35 m and 'Rarity'=2. As of May 11 there was a 2 day observation arc, the Condition Code=9 and the Earth MOID=0.000602842 AU. The solution date was 2026-May-11 22:12:02 PDT. The initial reported observation was by Mt. Lemmon Survey on 2026-05-10.

Using orbital elements downloaded from the MPC for the epoch 2026 May 12 0000 UT, ST4.1.11.20 Visual Pro predicts that 2026 JH2 will reach a peak brightness of 11.6 magnitude on may 18 at 1800 EDT at a distance of 96.7k km traveling through Lupus at 18.4"/second in daylight and below the horizon in Columbus, Ohio. This NEA should look best from the southern hemisphere.

The orbit for this NEA is still being refined. I'll post an update in a few days. This object is one to keep an eye on, if it will be visible from your location.

Good hunting,

Phil S.

NASA Plans the NEO Surveyor Mission

Thu, 07 May 2026 16:11:31 -0400

Here's an article about a NASA space telescope designed to detect Near Earth Objects (NEOs):

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/nasa...05318.html

It uses IR cameras and has a 20" aperture.

Phil S.

Close Approach of (152637) 1997 NC1

Sun, 26 Apr 2026 13:17:42 -0400

The kilometer-sized Aten class NEA, (152637) 1997 NC1 is predicted to make a close approach on 2026 Jun 27. Maximum brightness is predicted to be 10.1 magnitude. I'll provide an update closer to the time of the event.

Phil S.

Getting exposure time into project

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 21:54:14 -0400

Greg,

If I open and Imaging Project and go to Exposure Goals and Filters there are two places to describe sub exposures. ON the left I had set Sub exposures to 1 minute (plop down scope, no guiding, best I can do). On the right I customized the exposure for each filter thinking that was necessary to get the objective "Ha-R-G-B composite - 8 hr total exposure time - composite SNR 25 - color SNR 25". There I left sub exposure to Auto. I made a schedule and saved the sequence to import into SGPro. The result is all exposures are zero, not my expectation.

Changing the filter custom exposure time to 1 minute produced the anticipated result.

I guess I was thinking that if I had left "Auto" for the Custom exposure the program would calculated and used a non-zero number for exposure or maybe used the one minute setting from the left side.

Roy