Reply To: Close approach of 1997 NC1

Forums Asteroids Close approach of 1997 NC1 Reply To: Close approach of 1997 NC1

#641711
Alex Pratt
Participant

The latest ephemeris can be generated by using:

https://minorplanetcenter.net/iau/MPEph/MPEph.html

or

https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/horizons/app.html#/

Photometry – the ARPS section is collating very good light curves to determine its period of rotation

https://groups.io/g/ARPS/message/939

Astrometry – observers are submitting astrometry and photometry to the MPC

https://minorplanetcenter.net/db_search/show_object?utf8=%E2%9C%93&object_id=152637

Occultations – 4 occultations of stars have been observed (in USA, Poland and Spain) providing high-quality astrometry of the asteroid

https://ukoccultations.groups.io/g/main/message/5005

Goldstone radar is tracking it

https://echo.jpl.nasa.gov/asteroids/1997nc1.2026.goldstone.planning.html

Timelapse recordings will be nice souvenirs of its flyby. Tonight (Jun 26) its sky motion is 43 arcsec / minute and at mag 10 is a fine sight moving against the rich star fields.

In contrast to living in the digital world, view it in your eyepiece and experience the solar system in motion. Catch it now before it dives into southern skies on Sunday.

Alex.