U.S. National Radar

Comet Ison Viewing Guide

Monday, February 11, 2013

Asteroid 2012 DA14 Fly-by on February 15th


Asteroid 2012 DA14 discovered in 2012 by a group of Spanish astronomers is expected to make a close approach to Earth on Friday February 15th 2013. So close in fact that it will pass between the Earth and our Geostationary satellite orbits. The asteroid, on its closest approach, will pass with in 18,000 miles of the Earth's surface making it the closet approach ever observed by NASA since they began monitoring near Earth objects in 1990. The asteroid is approximately half the size of a football field and will be visible with a telescope from eastern Europe, southeast Asia, and Australia. However due to its speed it will be difficult to detect by armature star gazers.

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