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[Centaur]

Asteroid #3 Juno will commence apparent retrograde motion on 2011 JAN 22 before making its closest approach of this apparition at 1.7747 AU and magnitude +8.8 on MAR 04. Opposition to the Sun will occur on MAR 11 and resumption of direct motion on APR 29. The 300 km irregularly shaped stony asteroid was discovered in 1804 and contains about 1% the mass of the entire asteroid belt.

I’ve created a chart illustrating Juno’s position in equatorial coordinates as it traverses a sparse star field in Virgo during this apparition. It can be seen at www.curtrenz.com/astronomical

Photos or descriptions of Juno during this apparition would be welcome additions to this thread.

[Paulie pchris00]

Centaur coming through! Last year, unbeknown to me, Calumet Astronomical Society had a Messier observing program, and awarded certificates to members who observed the entire catalog during the year. For 2011, they have shifted to a solar system observing project. Juno is on the list, and yesterday I was checking to see where it is at. 1 Ceres, 4 Vesta, 7 Iris, and 44 Nysa are also on the list. For those who can stay up late, 44 Nysa is near Regulus right now. I don't know it's direction of motion, but it should be at it's easiest to find while near Alpha Leo. Also, in early February, 4 Vesta will be passing Venus, a great time to check this asteroid off the list.

I will be trying to track down this space rock in the next few days (or weeks, depending on weather), and if I get it, I will post it here.

[Centaur]

Good luck with the asteroid list. Perhaps in the process you will discover Asteroid Paulie! Asteroid #7 Iris will be in opposition on Sunday. This year it gets brighter than # Juno. An Iris chart is also currently on my astronomical webpage. Below are the dates for the closest approaches of the brightest asteroids during their upcoming apparitions. After the dates are the distances in AU and the stellar magnitudes.

2011 JAN 14 – 1.1721 – 7.9 – #7 Iris
2011 MAR 04 – 1.7747 – 8.8 – #3 Juno
2011 MAR 15 – 1.7533 – 10.2 – #18 Melpomene
2011 JUL 31 – 2.5483 – 9.5 – #2 Pallas
2011 AUG 01 – 1.2272 – 6.4 – #4 Vesta
2011 SEP 16 – 1.9883 – 7.6 – #1 Ceres
2011 NOV 24 – 1.2386 – 7.9 – #15 Eunomia
2012 FEB 23 – 1.7715 – 9.4 – #6 Hebe
2012 MAR 17 – 1.4688 – 9.6 – #8 Flora

[Paulie pchris00]

i saw your Iris chart, and thought I would mention it and the others. Our list is supposed to include all asteroids predicted to reach magnitude 9.5 or brighter, but for some reason Pallas, Hebe, and Flora are overlooked. I'm going to give those a shot anyway, and see what I can do to get Comet Hartley 2 kicked off the list.