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Tony Dunn

@tony873004 • 20,026 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.

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On Tuesday evening, August 4, a Falcon 9 rocket stage will slam into the Moon. Will the impact and plume be bright enough to see from the Americas?

On Tuesday evening, August 4, a Falcon 9 rocket stage will slam into the Moon. Will the impact and plume be bright enough to see from the Americas?

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Yesterday, newly-discovered asteroid 2026 SZ2 pass closer than our geostationary satellites. It is 1-5 meters across.

Yesterday, newly-discovered asteroid 2026 SZ2 pass closer than our geostationary satellites. It is 1-5 meters across.

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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

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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

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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.

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Launched today! 🚀 NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is now on its way to Sun-Earth L2, ~1 million miles away. It will survey billions of galaxies, probe dark energy & dark matter, and discover exoplanets. #RomanSpaceTelescope #NASA #Astronomy #Space

Launched today! 🚀 NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is now on its way to Sun-Earth L2, ~1 million miles away. It will survey billions of galaxies, probe dark energy & dark matter, and discover exoplanets. #RomanSpaceTelescope #NASA #Astronomy #Space

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Asteroid CERNQ52 entered Earth's atmosphere today over the ocean south of Indonesia. It was discovered by the Mount Lemmon Survey in Arizona only hours before its demise. At 80 cm wide, it would have caused no damage. I had to exaggerate the size here, so you could see it. 🔭

Asteroid CERNQ52 entered Earth's atmosphere today over the ocean south of Indonesia. It was discovered by the Mount Lemmon Survey in Arizona only hours before its demise. At 80 cm wide, it would have caused no damage. I had to exaggerate the size here, so you could see it. 🔭

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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

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#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.

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Is Sar2901 a mini-moon or space junk? Even the Minor Planet Center isn't sure. The astronomy community is divided. More observations in November should help settle the debate.

Is Sar2901 a mini-moon or space junk? Even the Minor Planet Center isn't sure. The astronomy community is divided. More observations in November should help settle the debate.

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Why don’t eclipses happen every month? The Moon’s 5° orbital tilt causes frequent misses, aligning only during brief "eclipse seasons." Tonight is the encore to the recent total solar eclipse. Here is a front-row view of Earth from the lunar surface!

Why don’t eclipses happen every month? The Moon’s 5° orbital tilt causes frequent misses, aligning only during brief "eclipse seasons." Tonight is the encore to the recent total solar eclipse. Here is a front-row view of Earth from the lunar surface!

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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.

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Why is tonight's Full Moon so low? For the Northern Hemisphere, around the June Solstice, the full Moon takes its lowest path of the year. We're also near a minor lunar standstill, making the Moon's nightly path even lower than usual.

Why is tonight's Full Moon so low? For the Northern Hemisphere, around the June Solstice, the full Moon takes its lowest path of the year. We're also near a minor lunar standstill, making the Moon's nightly path even lower than usual.

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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

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The first 4 asteroids discovered this year are 2026 AA 2026 AB 2026 AC 2026 AD

The first 4 asteroids discovered this year are 2026 AA 2026 AB 2026 AC 2026 AD

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#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.

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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

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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

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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 🔭

4,009,985 görüntüleme • 8 ay önce

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.

443,179 görüntüleme • 6 ay önce

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

261,292 görüntüleme • 11 ay önce

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. 🔭

91,655 görüntüleme • 8 ay önce

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.

63,230 görüntüleme • 6 ay önce

A view of Earth from JUICE. On Sept 27/28 ESA's JUICE mission will pass Earth for a gravity assist on its way to Jupiter. It may be bright enough for astrophotographers worldwide. Before close approach it will pass through Earth's shadow. JUICE will study Jupiter's icy moons.

A view of Earth from JUICE. On Sept 27/28 ESA's JUICE mission will pass Earth for a gravity assist on its way to Jupiter. It may be bright enough for astrophotographers worldwide. Before close approach it will pass through Earth's shadow. JUICE will study Jupiter's icy moons.

11,103 görüntüleme • 25 gün önce

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

85,526 görüntüleme • 10 ay önce

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.

155,029 görüntüleme • 2 yıl önce

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.

84,061 görüntüleme • 1 yıl önce

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

88,460 görüntüleme • 1 yıl önce

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 görüntüleme • 2 yıl önce

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.

77,417 görüntüleme • 2 yıl önce

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 görüntüleme • 1 yıl önce

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.

33,418 görüntüleme • 9 ay önce

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.

36,495 görüntüleme • 11 ay önce

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.

31,760 görüntüleme • 1 yıl önce

Sixteen of the brightest Kuiper Belt objects.

Sixteen of the brightest Kuiper Belt objects.

54,997 görüntüleme • 3 yıl önce

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 görüntüleme • 10 ay önce