Observing opportunity

[BellP]

Hi,

Does anyone know if I would be able to see asteroid "2016 AJ193" with a 5 inch refractor, it is set to be visible with a telescope on 21st August 2021 before sunrise?

Thanks,

Peter

[Stu]

15 minutes ago, BellP said:

Hi,

Does anyone know if I would be able to see asteroid "2016 AJ193" with a 5 inch refractor, it is set to be visible with a telescope on 21st August 2021 before sunrise?

Thanks,

Peter

I think you may struggle. This article suggests it will get to only 14th magnitude which is likely to be beyond a 5” scope. A lot depends on yours skies, conditions and your eyes too.

https://earthsky.org/space/close-asteroid-pass-august-21-asteroid-2016-aj193/

This calculator may be useful:

https://www.cruxis.com/scope/limitingmagnitude.htm

[BellP]

19 minutes ago, Stu said:

I think you may struggle. This article suggests it will get to only 14th magnitude which is likely to be beyond a 5” scope. A lot depends on yours skies, conditions and your eyes too.

https://earthsky.org/space/close-asteroid-pass-august-21-asteroid-2016-aj193/

This calculator may be useful:

https://www.cruxis.com/scope/limitingmagnitude.htm

Thanks for that Stu, I kind of thought as much, I usually have fantastic clear views of the skies, and can easily see a range of satellites and the ISS unaided(although my eyesight is not great) but I get what you are saying, it would be a fair stretch(if not impossible) to see at that magnitude with any of my scopes, the largest being the 5 inch refractor. Methinks I need a bigger scope, but then again if the seeing isn't great that is irrelevant. I will have to make do with other people's images or a live remote telescope if one is trained on it. Thanks again for the info.