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Pages: 1 Alan S professor emeritus Reged: 10/27/07 Toutatis       #5568314 - 12/12/12 09:28 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Last night I observed asteroid 4179 Toutatis just before the time of close approach. I took several images and stitched them into an animation which is on my blog The Lost Pleiad Observatory It was quite a fun project and the first time I have attempted anything like this. Post Extras:       NJScope sage Reged: 03/08/04 Loc: NJ Re: Toutatis [Re: Alan S]       #5568373 - 12/12/12 10:14 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Alan Great job, I was hoping to get out this evening to image Toutatis but the weather didn't cooperate. Post Extras:       norton67 member Reged: 12/11/12 Loc: Michigan Re: Toutatis [Re: NJScope]       #5568714 - 12/13/12 06:22 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Thanks, that was very cool. Post Extras:       dan777 professor emeritus Reged: 11/16/07 Loc: Indiana Re: Toutatis [Re: norton67]       #5568795 - 12/13/12 08:18 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I don’t know why, but this asteroid is one of the best kept secrets. Yet, it’s the “coolest” asteroid I have ever seen. S&T did a nice write-up. http://www.skyandtelescope.com/news/home/Sky-Is-Falling-Asteroid-Flies-By.html I watched it last night on 12.12.12 – how appropriate! Why is it so dim (~mag 10.8)? Must be a long way away. Nope, it’s dim because it’s a chunk of rock less than three miles in length. Why is it moving so fast (20 arcseconds per minute)? Must be a man-made satellite. Nope, it appears to be moving fast because it’s so close to earth. If I miss it when can I see it again? In four years (but you can call that Maybe) or eight years or 12 years, but it will likely be flung out of the solar system by then. Alan, nice animation. Post Extras:       Darren Drake Carpal Tunnel Reged: 10/09/02 Loc: Chicagoland Re: Toutatis [Re: dan777]       #5568987 - 12/13/12 10:46 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   After looking into this asteroid I see using SkySafari Pro on my phone that at 8:26 CST tonight 12/13 it will pass between an 11.5 mag and a 12.5 mag star and it will be 10.6 mag itself. At its rate of movement motion should be easily apparent if watched closely as it passes through these stars. I'm planning on watching this as it should be clear and I have only seen fast moving asteroids a few times... Edited by Darren Drake (12/13/12 10:54 AM) Post Extras:       Alan S professor emeritus Reged: 10/27/07 Re: Toutatis [Re: Darren Drake]       #5569073 - 12/13/12 11:32 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Good idea...you definitely want it close to some stars if you are going to appreciate the motion...for me, it was apparent, but not easily. Naturally it is much easier to note its position, take a 3 - 5 minute break and look again and you will see it has moved along. Either way it was pretty neat! Post Extras:       dan777 professor emeritus Reged: 11/16/07 Loc: Indiana Re: Toutatis [Re: Darren Drake]       #5569230 - 12/13/12 01:05 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Last night at 10:11 EST, Toutatis came within less than one arcminute of HIP 8668 (mag 8.6). For a while I thought Toutatis was going to occult 8668. The speed of Toutatis was a great show. Good luck tonight Darren, I might take a look at that same time. But then I'm also planning on getting up at 3 am for the meteor shower. Post Extras:       JimK professor emeritus Reged: 09/18/05 Loc: Albuquerque, NM USA Re: Toutatis [Re: dan777]       #5570134 - 12/13/12 11:10 PM Attachment (25 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Last night at 10:11 EST, Toutatis came within less than one arcminute of HIP 8668 (mag 8.6). For a while I thought Toutatis was going to occult 8668. The speed of Toutatis was a great show. ... I also saw that pass last night -- very impressive. And tonight I viewed 4179 Toutatis before a thick band of haze moved in as the asteroid moves toward Xi2 Cet. Attached is my crude sketch of the observation. It was quite enjoyable to see such a fast moving but small solar system object (especially when using a Barlow for additional magnification). Others should try to catch the view as the weather permits. Post Extras:       coldfielder member Reged: 08/07/09 Loc: Bruges Belgium Re: Toutatis [Re: Alan S]       #5572040 - 12/15/12 05:56 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Yesterday night 22h20 UT till 22h35 UT. Went for the first catch of Toutatis, now in the head of Cetus, and a printed star chart near. The extra star rapidly found in the field, and the mag. of 10.5 seems correct. Still looking for a displacement, it was easily noticed. 2 stars and 1 star form a straight line, and Toutatis went thru the middle of it, just like in following quickly made images (40x, 1.5 deg). Next days still a try. Post Extras:       Asbytec Guy in a furry hat Reged: 08/08/07 Loc: La Union, PI Re: Toutatis [Re: coldfielder]       #5572273 - 12/15/12 10:02 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   That's nice, Coldfielder. Thanks for sharing. Post Extras:       LivingNDixie TSP Chowhound Reged: 04/23/03 Loc: Trussville, AL Re: Toutatis [Re: Asbytec]       #5573155 - 12/15/12 08:30 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Glad to hear some are getting to see this. I have been sitting under clouds, just can't catch a break. Post Extras:       Alan S professor emeritus Reged: 10/27/07 Re: Toutatis [Re: LivingNDixie]       #5574094 - 12/16/12 12:30 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I hear you...since the night of my observation we have not seen the sky...hoping for tonight! Post Extras:       dan777 professor emeritus Reged: 11/16/07 Loc: Indiana Re: Toutatis [Re: Alan S]       #5582473 - 12/21/12 12:55 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   And direct form NASA, here are some images of Toutatis. http://science.time.com/2012/12/19/nasa-never-blinks-rogue-asteroid-caught-on... Post Extras:       Pages: 1

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