2024-03-29, 05:08 PM
CNEOS predicts that the medium-sized NEO, 2020 BP13, will make a close approach on 2024-Apr-09 02:32±<00:01 UT at a distance of 0.03886 AU moving with V Relative=6.80 km/sec, H=21.1 magnitude, diameter 160 m - 350 m amd 'Rarity'=1. This NEO has a 3022 day observation arc and the Condition Code=0, so the orbit is well defined. The Earth MOID=0.0100175 AU. The solution date was 2024-Mar-28 05:47:42 PDT. Per the Minor Planet Center (MPC) the initial reported observation was by Mt. Lemmon Survey on 2020-01-28. It's been observed over 5 oppositions.
Using orbital elements downloaded from the MPC for the epoch 2024 Mar 29 0000 UT, ST4v predicts that this NEO will reach a maximum brightness of 16.4 magnitude on 2024 April 8 2300 EDT moving through Ara at 14"/min, but below the horizon from Columbus, Ohio. This is a southern hemisphere object with a relatively flat light curve near maximum brightness. It's predicted to be brighter than 17th magnitude several days before and after closest approach.
Here's the Object Info dialog for this NEO:
This object should require a large aperture to observe visually, but imagers should have an easier time detecting it as it's not moving too fast and shouldn't trail too badly.
Good hunting,
Phil S.
Using orbital elements downloaded from the MPC for the epoch 2024 Mar 29 0000 UT, ST4v predicts that this NEO will reach a maximum brightness of 16.4 magnitude on 2024 April 8 2300 EDT moving through Ara at 14"/min, but below the horizon from Columbus, Ohio. This is a southern hemisphere object with a relatively flat light curve near maximum brightness. It's predicted to be brighter than 17th magnitude several days before and after closest approach.
Here's the Object Info dialog for this NEO:
This object should require a large aperture to observe visually, but imagers should have an easier time detecting it as it's not moving too fast and shouldn't trail too badly.
Good hunting,
Phil S.