BS: Tonight! Asteroid flyby

Subject: BS: Tonight! Asteroid flyby
From: beardedbruce
Date: 30 Mar 07 - 01:54 PM

Space Weather News for March 30, 2007
http://spaceweather.com

ASTEROID FLYBY: Asteroid 2006 VV2 is about to fly past Earth. Tonight, March 30th, the 2 km-wide space rock will streak through the constellation Leo only 2 million miles away glowing like a 10th magnitude star. Although the asteroid will not be visible to the unaided eye, it should be an easy target for backyard telescopes equipped with CCD cameras. A movie of 2006 VV2 flying past spiral galaxy M81, featured on today's edition of http://Spaceweather.com, shows what a small telescope can accomplish. The Americas are favored for tonight's flyby, especially southern California where 2006 VV2 will glide almost directly overhead at the moment of closest approach around 11 pm PDT.

Note: There is no danger of a collision. At a distance of 2 million miles, the asteroid will be almost 9 times farther away than the Moon. The encounter is interesting because it affords astronomers an opportunity to study a large near-Earth asteroid at fairly close range. Many professional observatories will be taking data, including NASA radars, which will ping 2006 VV2 to refine its orbit and learn more about its shape and composition. Learn more at http://spaceweather.com .

Subject: RE: BS: Tonight! Asteroid flyby
From: Mrrzy
Date: 30 Mar 07 - 04:37 PM

Cool! Thanks! Where is Leo to the uninitiated? I'm in central VA. (I know - "Up!")

Subject: RE: BS: Tonight! Asteroid flyby
From: beardedbruce
Date: 30 Mar 07 - 04:40 PM

http://skytonight.com/observing/home/2006VV2.html

Subject: RE: BS: Tonight! Asteroid flyby
From: GUEST,terrier
Date: 31 Mar 07 - 04:02 PM

I saw the notice on spaceweather and for once there was no star map (or I couldn't find one). They usually indicate where in the sky to look. Oh well, I don't own a telescope anyway, I'll just wait for the pics to be posted

Subject: RE: BS: Tonight! Asteroid flyby
From: *daylia*
Date: 31 Mar 07 - 04:25 PM

How to find Leo, using the Big Dipper

(Or, just remember the Lion follows the Crab and leads the Virgin    :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Tonight! Asteroid flyby
From: GUEST,terrier
Date: 31 Mar 07 - 07:39 PM

Just perused the pics on spaceweather, not a lot to look at, though I suppose at approx. 2 million miles away, a piece of rock only 2km across wouldn't be to spectacular. I hope Leo got a good view 8*)

Subject: RE: BS: Tonight! Asteroid flyby
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 01 Apr 07 - 05:22 PM

I suppose that Leo the Lion, The Crab, and even The Virgin regularly get to see rocks flashed in front of them...