2023-07-13, 04:49 PM
(2023-07-13, 02:04 AM)bigmasterdrago Wrote: I was tracking this rock and was wondering why there had been no obs from July 4 to the 12th. And now 7 additional obs by small scopes in New Zealand under the auspices of the science facilities of the University of Canterbury. Is Octans inaccessible by the big boys? The rock has spent the last week tripping thru it at mag 16ish. Maybe there was little need as it remained in a dark sky and only moved about 25°.
The South Celestial Pole (SCP) is in Octans and this NEO spent July 4-12 passing through that constellation. Tracking of minor planets so close to the SCP may be difficult for the scopes normally used to detect MPs. It seems odd that they couldn't track near the poles though. Maybe the moon was a factor.
Phil S.