Monday 11 February 2013

The space 'brick' is coming

Asteroid 2012DA14 half the size of a football field it will make a close approach to Earth next Friday 15th February 2013, when she comes within 17,200 miles (27,680 kilometers) but poses no threat of colliding with our planet, 
This is the closest  an asteroid the size of 2012DA14, which is about 150 feet (45 meters) wide, that astronomers have known about in advance. The asteroid will not only pass between Earth and the moon's orbit, but also fly lower than the ring of geosynchronous communications, weather and navigation satellites that fly high above our planet. Asteroid 2012DA14 will be 5,000 miles (8,046 km) closer to Earth than those satellites during the flyby. She should appear in the evening sky after 8pm but her brightness will be about magnitude 7 and fading as the evening progress so it wont be a naked eye object. Should be view-able through binoculars or a small telescope and I think the best chance of seeing her is when she passes the handle of the 'plough'. 
No doubt I have given her the kiss of death when it comes to visiability so on that theme the space shed is up and about in our evening sky's again

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