2022-05-02, 04:54 PM
At least CNEOS lists the Condition Code for this MP as '0' so the orbit is well defined & the predicted track should be very accurate. The minimum Re is 0.038 AU (14.9 LD). I don't know how much the approach will perturb the orbit. The osculating elements used to produce the IA chart were downloaded from the MPC on 2022 May 1 for the epoch 2022 May 1. I suppose you could query HORIZONS to see how quickly the elements are changing with time as the pass occurs. They certainly change a bit, but what effect that has on the trajectory, who knows. You'd need to use the trick of entering both sets of elements into ST4v simultaneously & comparing the resulting predicted trails. I don't want to risk messing up the MP DB to find out
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Hopefully you'll be able to get a view of this one. It's rare that any of these MPs get this bright.
Phil S.

Hopefully you'll be able to get a view of this one. It's rare that any of these MPs get this bright.
Phil S.