2022-12-16, 05:04 PM
I made a stab at this large rock last night just after moonrise under pristine skies (Bortle 4). Its estimated magnitude was 13.4 with sky motion just over 1'/min. While it was ~40° high, it was in my most light polluted direction (south). The 13 incher at 250x was able to pull out single mag 13.0-13.2 stars seemingly easily, I was unable to fix the rock's location visually. I know it was there but it was just out of reach as both SkyTools and Horizons agreed on its position to within <" - 16 December 00:00CST RA 05 41 34.07 DEC -16 58 59.4. I need to configure ST to adjust the difficulty for stellar objects in my southern sky due to it claiming apparent to easy. I know better and should have expected these results.
I'll have another chance at a 13.4 mag big rock (~200 meter 2010 XC15) which will be much better placed for viewing in the early morning hours of December 27th. It will be moving >2'/min east thru Bootes high in the eastern sky (60+° near the beginning of astronomical twilight). Since this will be a 2LD pass, make sure to plot it for your location using the nearest element set.
I'll have another chance at a 13.4 mag big rock (~200 meter 2010 XC15) which will be much better placed for viewing in the early morning hours of December 27th. It will be moving >2'/min east thru Bootes high in the eastern sky (60+° near the beginning of astronomical twilight). Since this will be a 2LD pass, make sure to plot it for your location using the nearest element set.