Asteroid will cross Earth safely this week
One more asteroid within the information! This one is rather less splashy than the current disintegration of the 1-meter-wide asteroid over France, however observers with telescopes can watch it. The truth is, on current nights, novice astronomers utilizing telescopes have already been in a position to spot this bigger space rock that scientists estimate at virtually a 1/2-mile-wide (1-km-wide). This asteroid, 199145, is about to securely cross by our planet on the evening of Wednesday, February 15, 2023. Astronomers at Kitt Peak Observatory in Tucson, Arizona, found asteroid 199145 (2005 YY128) on December 30, 2005.
With a diameter between 1,903 ft (580 meters) to 4,265 ft (1.3 km), the space rock earned the classification of a Doubtlessly Hazardous Asteroid. Its medium dimension makes it shiny sufficient that observers with an 8-inch or bigger telescope can spot it. Moreover, sky lovers with camera-equipped scopes have been in a position to seize the asteroid even in smaller telescopes.
This week, asteroid 2005 YY128 is having its closest strategy to Earth in additional than 400 years. Nonetheless, there’s nothing to concern. That’s as a result of its orbit is well-known, and it’ll safely cross by our planet’s south pole at about 12 lunar distances. Its closest strategy will happen on February 15, 2023, round 7:46 p.m. EST.
The trail of the asteroid
The Apollo-type asteroid is touring by space at a velocity of 55,140 miles per hour (88,740 km/h or 24.65 km/sec), relative to Earth. The space rock’s excessive velocity permits novice astronomers to detect its movement in entrance of the celebrities. Nonetheless, the gap makes it seem as a slow-moving object.
This video exhibits asteroid 2005 YY128, which seems as a small transferring star. Raymond Negron captured the asteroid with a 92-mm telescope from Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico:
Astronomers are utilizing the Goldstone Antenna in California to attempt to acquire radar photographs of asteroid 2005 YY128 from February 11 to 13, 2023.
Observers within the southern U.S. can attempt to spot the space rock utilizing telescopes on the evening of February 13, whereas these within the Southern Hemisphere might be favored in the course of the asteroid’s closest strategy.
Star charts for asteroid 2005 YY128
Backside line: A 1/2-mile-wide (1-km-wide) asteroid will cross Earth safely on February 15 and 16, 2023. Observers with telescopes can spot it. See star charts right here.
