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Tony Dunn

@tony873004 • 20,030 subscribers

Orbit simulations of planets, comets, asteroids, spacecraft, and other interesting stuff. Amateur astronomer. BA: Physics & Astronomy, SFSU.

Shorts

3rd interstellar object discovered? Maybe. There's a lot of buzz right now in the Astro community. More observations should come in tonight to confirm if A11pI3Z is from beyond the solar system.

3rd interstellar object discovered? Maybe. There's a lot of buzz right now in the Astro community. More observations should come in tonight to confirm if A11pI3Z is from beyond the solar system.

4,411,461 Aufrufe

A rocket booster will slam into the Moon on August 5. 2025-010D is the upper stage of a Falcon 9 rocket that brought the Blue Ghost Mission 1 to the Moon.

A rocket booster will slam into the Moon on August 5. 2025-010D is the upper stage of a Falcon 9 rocket that brought the Blue Ghost Mission 1 to the Moon.

114,362 Aufrufe

Interstellar #comet 3I/ATLAS is hidden on the far side of the Sun from Earth. But today it sweeps past Mars, where orbiting spacecraft have ringside seats. Let’s hope they look up. #astronomy #NASA

Interstellar #comet 3I/ATLAS is hidden on the far side of the Sun from Earth. But today it sweeps past Mars, where orbiting spacecraft have ringside seats. Let’s hope they look up. #astronomy #NASA

270,863 Aufrufe

New observations came in over night. Here's A11pl3Z's updated path. It now passes inside Mars' orbit. In yesterday's animation, the camera was below the ecliptic. This is from above, so if it looks mirrored, that's why. #astronomy #A11pl3Z

New observations came in over night. Here's A11pl3Z's updated path. It now passes inside Mars' orbit. In yesterday's animation, the camera was below the ecliptic. This is from above, so if it looks mirrored, that's why. #astronomy #A11pl3Z

321,031 Aufrufe

10 #asteroids passed closer than the Moon in a 5-day period from September 23-28. All were discovered this month. The largest up to 41 meters wide. #astronomy

10 #asteroids passed closer than the Moon in a 5-day period from September 23-28. All were discovered this month. The largest up to 41 meters wide. #astronomy

128,342 Aufrufe

Apophis will race through Earth's sky at naked-eye brightness in less than 3 years.

Apophis will race through Earth's sky at naked-eye brightness in less than 3 years.

29,586 Aufrufe

#asteroid 2024 YR4 and 200 clones pass through the Earth-Moon system on Dec 22, 2032. Three of these clones hit Earth. Another hits the Moon.

#asteroid 2024 YR4 and 200 clones pass through the Earth-Moon system on Dec 22, 2032. Three of these clones hit Earth. Another hits the Moon.

129,836 Aufrufe

October's comets. SWAN C/2025 R2, and Lemmon (C/2025 A6). Our interstellar visitor 3I/Atlas aka C/2025 N1, is unfortunately on the wrong side of the Sun for viewing, but I included it anyway because... well... it's interstellar. #Astronomy

October's comets. SWAN C/2025 R2, and Lemmon (C/2025 A6). Our interstellar visitor 3I/Atlas aka C/2025 N1, is unfortunately on the wrong side of the Sun for viewing, but I included it anyway because... well... it's interstellar. #Astronomy

30,637 Aufrufe

#Asteroid 2024_YR4 may collide with the Moon 🌙. Its nominal trajectory, based on updated observations, shows a lunar impact on Dec 22, 2032. But the odds of collision remain low.

#Asteroid 2024_YR4 may collide with the Moon 🌙. Its nominal trajectory, based on updated observations, shows a lunar impact on Dec 22, 2032. But the odds of collision remain low.

31,230 Aufrufe

Georgia bolide: A fiery visitor streaked through the sky today, dropping meteorites across the Peach State. The devil might’ve gone down to Georgia, but this one came in fast from above. This animation is an educated guess at its path. #Atlanta #Georgia #Astronomy #Meteor

Georgia bolide: A fiery visitor streaked through the sky today, dropping meteorites across the Peach State. The devil might’ve gone down to Georgia, but this one came in fast from above. This animation is an educated guess at its path. #Atlanta #Georgia #Astronomy #Meteor

22,919 Aufrufe

8 new Near-Earth Asteroids have been discovered by the Vera Rubin Observatory from just 10 hours of sky scanning over the course of a few nights. Imagine what Rubin will do when it's fully operational. #LSST #RubinObservatory #NEO

8 new Near-Earth Asteroids have been discovered by the Vera Rubin Observatory from just 10 hours of sky scanning over the course of a few nights. Imagine what Rubin will do when it's fully operational. #LSST #RubinObservatory #NEO

21,807 Aufrufe

🚨 New dwarf planet candidate: 2017 OF201 🚨 ~700 km wide, now 90.5 AU from the Sun. Orbit: a = 838 AU, q = 44.9 AU — deep into the inner Oort Cloud. Possibly part of a hidden population totaling ~1% of Earth’s mass. 📄 Paper: #astronomy #dwarfplanet

🚨 New dwarf planet candidate: 2017 OF201 🚨 ~700 km wide, now 90.5 AU from the Sun. Orbit: a = 838 AU, q = 44.9 AU — deep into the inner Oort Cloud. Possibly part of a hidden population totaling ~1% of Earth’s mass. 📄 Paper: #astronomy #dwarfplanet

14,139 Aufrufe

#Asteroid 2025 FC tried hard to avoid detection. The 3-10 meter rock approached Earth from the daytime sky. Shortly after close approach of 60,000 km over the South Pacific Ocean, it briefly hid in the Earth's shadow before being detected.

#Asteroid 2025 FC tried hard to avoid detection. The 3-10 meter rock approached Earth from the daytime sky. Shortly after close approach of 60,000 km over the South Pacific Ocean, it briefly hid in the Earth's shadow before being detected.

13,905 Aufrufe

Happy Halloween. Yesterday, #asteroid 2024 UG9 buzzed Earth just 2476 km above the Indian Ocean. 6 hours later, it passed 18279 km above the Moon. It is the size of a giant pumpkin 🎃.

Happy Halloween. Yesterday, #asteroid 2024 UG9 buzzed Earth just 2476 km above the Indian Ocean. 6 hours later, it passed 18279 km above the Moon. It is the size of a giant pumpkin 🎃.

14,090 Aufrufe

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Asteroid 2025 MH348 discovered last year is possibly a trojan of Neptune. #astro 🔭

Asteroid 2025 MH348 discovered last year is possibly a trojan of Neptune. #astro 🔭

4,005,510 Aufrufe • vor 3 Monaten

Artemis II doesn’t reverse direction. Far out, its motion is mostly radial (toward Earth), so its small eastward speed is slower than Earth’s rotation, so it appears to drift west. Closer in, tangential speed grows and overtakes Earth’s rotation, so it moves east.

Artemis II doesn’t reverse direction. Far out, its motion is mostly radial (toward Earth), so its small eastward speed is slower than Earth’s rotation, so it appears to drift west. Closer in, tangential speed grows and overtakes Earth’s rotation, so it moves east.

442,783 Aufrufe • vor 1 Monat

After billions of years heading towards us, interstellar comet #3IATLAS is currently at its closest approach to the Sun right NOW. Perihelion. #astronomy #comet

After billions of years heading towards us, interstellar comet #3IATLAS is currently at its closest approach to the Sun right NOW. Perihelion. #astronomy #comet

261,196 Aufrufe • vor 7 Monaten

A view of Earth from Artemis II. If you can see your region, then you might be able to spot Artemis II with a telescope or binoculars.

A view of Earth from Artemis II. If you can see your region, then you might be able to spot Artemis II with a telescope or binoculars.

63,128 Aufrufe • vor 2 Monaten

In 1 year from today, Voyager 1 will be one light day from the Sun. 🔭

In 1 year from today, Voyager 1 will be one light day from the Sun. 🔭

91,493 Aufrufe • vor 4 Monaten

18 asteroids passed closer than the Moon in November. And every one of them was discovered this month. #Astronomy

18 asteroids passed closer than the Moon in November. And every one of them was discovered this month. #Astronomy

85,286 Aufrufe • vor 6 Monaten

In the last 6 days, 9 asteroids passed inside the Moon’s orbit. Estimated sizes: ~1–38 m. All were discovered this month, a reminder that countless small, faint NEOs slip by unnoticed until they make a close pass.

In the last 6 days, 9 asteroids passed inside the Moon’s orbit. Estimated sizes: ~1–38 m. All were discovered this month, a reminder that countless small, faint NEOs slip by unnoticed until they make a close pass.

83,882 Aufrufe • vor 8 Monaten

In the past 3 days, two asteroids — 2025 PF2 and 2025 PU1 — passed closer than the geostationary satellites delivering our preseason #NFL games this weekend. #asteroid #astronomy

In the past 3 days, two asteroids — 2025 PF2 and 2025 PU1 — passed closer than the geostationary satellites delivering our preseason #NFL games this weekend. #asteroid #astronomy

88,336 Aufrufe • vor 9 Monaten

Newly-discovered #asteroid 2024 UQ impacted Earth's atmosphere off the coast of North America early yesterday morning. It was 1-2 meters wide.

Newly-discovered #asteroid 2024 UQ impacted Earth's atmosphere off the coast of North America early yesterday morning. It was 1-2 meters wide.

154,888 Aufrufe • vor 1 Jahr

Saturn has 128 newly-discovered moons. Here they are color-coded by their MPEC release. Orange: MPEC 2025 E153, Purple: MPEC 2025-E154, Green: MPEC 2025-E155.

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Saturn has 128 newly-discovered moons. Here they are color-coded by their MPEC release. Orange: MPEC 2025 E153, Purple: MPEC 2025-E154, Green: MPEC 2025-E155.

108,404 Aufrufe • vor 1 Jahr

Polaris is not always the North Star. Due to Earth's precession, over the course of 26,000 years, Polaris, Alderamin, Vega, and Thuban take turns as the closest prominent star to the celestial pole.

Polaris is not always the North Star. Due to Earth's precession, over the course of 26,000 years, Polaris, Alderamin, Vega, and Thuban take turns as the closest prominent star to the celestial pole.

33,213 Aufrufe • vor 4 Monaten

Watch Earth’s newest quasi-moon in motion. 🌍🌀 The new paper “Meet Arjuna 2025 PN7” confirms #asteroid 2025 PN7 is trapped in a quasi-satellite orbit, looping around Earth (in a rotating frame) from the 1960s to the 2080s.

Watch Earth’s newest quasi-moon in motion. 🌍🌀 The new paper “Meet Arjuna 2025 PN7” confirms #asteroid 2025 PN7 is trapped in a quasi-satellite orbit, looping around Earth (in a rotating frame) from the 1960s to the 2080s.

42,287 Aufrufe • vor 7 Monaten

The ESCAPADE mission to Mars is about to launch. It will stay near Earth for about 1 year before using an Oberth maneuver to send it to Mars.

The ESCAPADE mission to Mars is about to launch. It will stay near Earth for about 1 year before using an Oberth maneuver to send it to Mars.

36,404 Aufrufe • vor 6 Monaten

Another October comet? Recently-discovered A11bP7I may be a Sun-grazing comet poised to put on a show in late October.

Another October comet? Recently-discovered A11bP7I may be a Sun-grazing comet poised to put on a show in late October.

79,817 Aufrufe • vor 1 Jahr

The #EuropaClipper mission will launch today. After Mars and Earth flybys, it will arrive at Jupiter in 2030. It will study the habitability of Europa, and possibly confirm the existence of its subsurface ocean.

The #EuropaClipper mission will launch today. After Mars and Earth flybys, it will arrive at Jupiter in 2030. It will study the habitability of Europa, and possibly confirm the existence of its subsurface ocean.

77,297 Aufrufe • vor 1 Jahr

What if Juno left Jupiter to get a closer look at interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS? With a couple of burns, Juno can get as close as 25 million km. Purely hypothetical, fun orbital mechanics! 🔭 Thanks Adam Hibberd I4IS for the research and trajectory data.

What if Juno left Jupiter to get a closer look at interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS? With a couple of burns, Juno can get as close as 25 million km. Purely hypothetical, fun orbital mechanics! 🔭 Thanks Adam Hibberd I4IS for the research and trajectory data.

31,708 Aufrufe • vor 7 Monaten

Newly-discovered #comet C/2025 K1 (Atlas) will be a northern hemisphere gem for much of the rest of the year, making 2 close approaches to Earth: 0.58 AU in August, and 0.40 AU in November.

Newly-discovered #comet C/2025 K1 (Atlas) will be a northern hemisphere gem for much of the rest of the year, making 2 close approaches to Earth: 0.58 AU in August, and 0.40 AU in November.

42,641 Aufrufe • vor 1 Jahr

Lunar eclipse begins soon. If you were on the Moon, it would be a solar eclipse. Here's a view from the Moon.

Lunar eclipse begins soon. If you were on the Moon, it would be a solar eclipse. Here's a view from the Moon.

11,897 Aufrufe • vor 3 Monaten

Asteroid 2022 RD₂ will become a mini-moon not once, but three times in 2043–2044. This may not exactly look like an orbit, But during each capture, if the Sun suddenly vanished, RD₂ would remain gravitationally bound to Earth indefinitely.

Asteroid 2022 RD₂ will become a mini-moon not once, but three times in 2043–2044. This may not exactly look like an orbit, But during each capture, if the Sun suddenly vanished, RD₂ would remain gravitationally bound to Earth indefinitely.

19,144 Aufrufe • vor 6 Monaten

116 years of Barnard's Star: 1940 to 2056. Proper motion and parallax are visible. The field of view is ~ as wide as the full Moon. #astronomy

116 years of Barnard's Star: 1940 to 2056. Proper motion and parallax are visible. The field of view is ~ as wide as the full Moon. #astronomy

13,026 Aufrufe • vor 4 Monaten