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+--- Thread: Close Approach of (217628) Lugh (/showthread.php?tid=3513)
Close Approach of (217628) Lugh - PMSchu - 2026-11-10
CNEOS predicts that the kilometer-sized, Apollo-class NEA, (217628) Lugh, will make a close approach on 2026-Nov-28 02:47±<00:01 UT at a distance of 0.07077 AU moving with V Relative=17.71 km/sec, H=16.7 magnitude, diameter 1.4 km and 'Rarity'=2. There is a 24153 day observation arc, the Condition Code=0 and the Earth MOID=0.0338864 AU. The solution date was 2026-Nov-10 07:55:39 PST. This NEA was discovered at Klet on 1990-04-17 by A. Mrkos. The observation arc was extended by observations on 1960-09-24 and 1960-09-28 at Palomar Mountain. This object is on the MPC's list of Potentially Hazardous Objects (PHAs) that you can download using SkyTools. There will be another even closer approach on 2113-Apr-04 18:03±00:02 UT at 0.04889 AU.
Using MPC's orbital elements for the epoch 2026 Nov 10 0000 UT, ST4.1.11.21 Visual Pro predicts that (217628) Lugh will reach a peak brightness of 13.4 magnitude from November 21 in Eridanus to November 24 in Caelum with the morning of November 23 being best. Then (217628) Lugh will be 13.4 magnitude traveling through Eridanus at ~14"/minute and 0.086 AU distant. Close approach is predicted (to the nearest hour) on 2026 November 27 at 2200 EST (November 28 at 0300 UT) with the NEA 0.071 AU distant traveling through Dorado at 14.0 magnitude and 20.9"/minute, but below the horizon in Columbus, Ohio (40°N). It's currently 14.4 magnitude and 0.19 AU distant in Eridanus.
Here's the Object Info dialog for (217628) Lugh:
The orbit for this NEA is well defined and the approach distance is >0.07 AU so the orbital elements provided by the MPC should yield accurate positions. It's also quite bright for a NEA.
Good hunting,
Phil S.