An asteroid in the Pleiades

[lukebl]

Hi there. There's currently a small asteroid passing right though the Pleiades (well, in front of it, obviously), 2043 Ortutay, 43 km across and around magnitude 15.3. Discovered in 1936 by G. Kulin at Budapest. It is named after Gyula Ortutay, a Hungarian professor of Ethnology. Actually, asteroids frequently pass in front of the Pleiades, but I haven't captured any recently.

Here's a wide view of the Pleiades. 18 x 300s exposures with a Canon 700d, 250mm f/4.7 Newtonian, captured on 29th December 2013.

Here's a crop, showing the trail of the asteroid over the period of the exposure (90 minutes):

And here's an animation over the period, plus a satellite trail. It started during twilight, hence the bright blue sky!

I just don't get tired of observing asteroids! I think it's because they are constantly moving on a human timescale, and there are are always new ones to observe in different parts of the sky, often passing by other interesting objects. Much as I love deep sky objects, they always look the same within a human life span!

[hobsey]

Nice capture.

[Lorne]

Good capture  

I've only ever tried to observe last years close flyby, 2012 DA14? and failed miserably. 

[Uplooker]

Well done Luke, that is some fabulous work, congratualtions.

Ian

[sologuitarist61]

Well done for even noticing that you had captured it I am sure most of us would have missed it - very observant!

[David Smith]

Nice capture. I have a few under my belt visually and find them fascinating for the same reasons - they move! Visually ~ mag 13 is my limit so this one will not be on my hit list. Great post Luke, Thanks

[Paul M]

Well captured!

It helps remind us mere mortals just how faint mag 15 is !!

[lukebl]

Thanks for the comments, folks. I should have kept a tally of the asteroids I've observed or captured, but I'm not that organized. Must be well into triple figures by now. I must say that it's really nice to just go back to the simplicity of DSLR imaging occasionally There is definitely a place for it, despite what the mono-CCD nay-sayers think. It's simple to set up if you have a short observing window, and you can easily capture objects down to at least 17th/18th mag with a DSLR.

[jabeoo1]

Your posts always fascinate Luke.  Nice work.

[symesie04]

Not sure which im most impressed with, the fact you have noticed such a tiny asteroid or the gorgeous sharp ice blue image of the girls.

[robbie c]

Cracking image Luke well done