Minor Planet Center shows 2012 DA14's position RA and Dec for the 15th/16th local time: Sunset 13 25 +77 2300 16 41 +85 Midnight 17 24 +85 Dawn 19 44 +86 No star chart handy but I think that's east of the dipper. On 23 Jan 2013, at 11:11, Seth Jarvis wrote:

Patrick,

When I plug the orbital elements (per the IAU Minor Planet Center) into Starry Night it shows that on the night of Feb 15 from Salt Lake City 2012 DA14 will be moving through the bowl of the Big Dipper around 11PM local (0600 UT).

Does that jibe with your ephemeris?

Thanks,

Seth

-----Original Message----- From: utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Patrick Wiggins Sent: Wednesday, January 23, 2013 12:10 AM To: utah astronomy listserve utah astronomy Subject: [Utah-astronomy] 2012 DA14 ephemerides

I've posted a PDF showing ephemerides for minor planet 2012 DA14 around the time that it may be most visible from here in Utah (specifically for my observatory but they should be good for all of this area):

http://users.wirelessbeehive.com/~paw/temp/2012DA14EPHEMS.JPG

Unfortunately it will reach closest approach (~40,000 km) around noon our time. The data show it will be about mag +8ish then and ripping across the sky at about 2,300 arc seconds per minute. Zoom!

About the time of astronomical dark here in Utah it will be about a third of the way up the sky, about 180,000 km out, dimmed to magnitude +12ish and slowed to "only" abut 150"/min (compare that to Ceres which is currently plodding along at about 0.25"/min).

So there's still hope some locals with large scopes may be able to see it visually. And I'm guessing I wont be the only one trying to catch some of its reflected photons.

patrick

On 23 Jan 2013, at 14:05, Chuck Hards wrote:

There's an app for that... ;-)

Chortle. :) Yeah but I could not use it while driving. Home now with app in hand and looks like MPC is giving two very different positions depending on where I look on their site. Before confusing myself (and everyone else) further I'm going to make a few inquiries and check another site and see what's going on. Stay tuned... patrick

On Wed, Jan 23, 2013 at 1:39 PM, Patrick Wiggins <paw@wirelessbeehive.com>wrote:

...

No star chart handy but I think that's east of the dipper.

For those of you planning on attending the Bryce Canyon Astronomy Festival June 5-8, 2013, Kevin Poe has been able to obtain a block of 20 rooms at a greatly reduced rate. See below: Hi Don! Ruby's came through with a block of 20 motel rooms, as I had hoped they would, for SLAS members wishing to attend our 2013 Astro Fest. These would be the outside entry rooms and if checked-in early enough, easy to get rooms on ground floor. If members have secured lodging elsewhere and are content with those arrangements then disregard. Otherwise please extend my apology for the inconvenience of having to cancel other reservations and reschedule with Ruby's. The discounted room reservations are for $77.00 + 12% occupancy tax. As you will see, they have extended the offer to also include Tuesday night if any members would like to arrive early. I would suggest that SLAS folks first try the on-line reservation system as sometimes the reservation desk gets confused with block reservations. Go to: www.bryceres.com/rubys Under special rate scroll to : group/block code: 42G I just tried the system and it worked fine. I would also add that it would be great if SLAS members could commit one way or the other by the end of February so that we can return any unused rooms back to Ruby's. In spite of inflation, 10% annual increase in Bryce Canyon visitation, popularity of this event, etc. Ruby's has continued to provide us with this same rock bottom price over the past several years and I'd like to thank them by making sure no rooms are left unused. As usual our group campsite in Sunset Campground will be available to SLAS members who'd prefer to tent-camp, and I can makes arrangements to have 5-6 RV sites in North Campground provided to SLAS folks with RVs or trailers. Thanks again to all at SLAS for your unwavering support of this event and Bryce Canyon's other astronomy / night sky endeavors. The sacrifices of your personal time and travel expenses as well as the generous sharing of your astronomy equipment and expertise without guest is what makes this the single greatest astronomy gathering in the National Park Service and indeed, one of the most successful annual special events of all 398 National Park Service sites! -poe