"Unusual" asteriod (944) Hidalgo

Although there is nothing unusual about the _appearance_ of this mag
13.5 asteroid, its orbit is highly inclined and extends far beyond
Jupiter. It has been suggested that it may be a dead comet. Whatever
it is, it is now close to perihelion and well placed for northern
observers: high in the sky in Andromeda. As a bonus, it will cross the
face of the Andromada galaxy later this month (Nov. 21.-23).

I took a few images of Hidalgo last night, as it moves slowly in front
of the background stars of Andromeda, and posted them to
http://www.mysky.org/mysky/?article_...:19398&group=1

(A web interface to the newsgroup alt.binaries.pictures.astro)

pej
--
Per Erik Jorde

Whatever
it is, it is now close to perihelion and well placed for northern
observers: high in the sky in Andromeda. As a bonus, it will cross the
face of the Andromada galaxy later this month (Nov. 21.-23).

At that time the moon will be in a fat waxing gibbous phase only around 35-40
degrees removed from these objects, making for a far from impressive encounter
I'm afraid.

CNJ999

(JBortle) writes:

Whatever
it is, it is now close to perihelion and well placed for northern
observers: high in the sky in Andromeda. As a bonus, it will cross the
face of the Andromada galaxy later this month (Nov. 21.-23).

At that time the moon will be in a fat waxing gibbous phase only around 35-40
degrees removed from these objects, making for a far from impressive encounter
I'm afraid.

You're right. Better catch it know while the moon is out of the
way. The interesting aspect with this little asteroid (30km) is, from
an amateur observer's wievpoint, that it is soon leaving the inner
part of the solar system where we can see it (at mag 13.5). In a few
years hence it will reach aphelion, far out around Saturn's orbit, and
at magnitude 20 will be lost to us amateurs. Until it returns some 13
years from now.

pej
--
Per Erik Jorde