Asteroid 2004 BL86 is coming!

[tgo747]

I recently stumbled on this==>http://www.nasa.gov/jpl/asteroid-to-fly-by-earth-safely-on-january-26/#.VLcuzivF-q_

 while reading stuff on NASA's website and this is something i definitely want to see.

Its closest point to us will be about three times as far as the moon, so i think we're safe.

Asteroid 2004 BL86 is said to be the closest asteroid to pass by the earth for the next 200 years. The asteroid also will be the largest one around until the predicted asteroid 1990 AN10 flies past in 2027.

I am hoping to observe it . 

[ciels noirs]

Exciting, fingers crossed for clear skies on the 26th

Martin

[lukebl]

I have been planning to observe thus one. It rapidly increases to magnitude 9 on 26th before fading back to mag. 17 over the following few days. On the evening of 26th it will be moving northwards fast through Leo near Jupiter.

[Dave In Vermont]

Here's the Space.com take on this:

http://www.space.com/28269-asteroid-earth-flyby-2004-bl86.html

Time to sell umbrellas to the rubes...

Clear Skies,

Dave

[happy-kat]

This sounds interesting

[Radman40]

Anyone know how bright it will be and where to look?

[tgo747]

Radman40,

the asteroid is currently around magnitude 17 and will be magnitude 9 at its brightest on the 26th, as for where to look,

On the evening of 26th it will be moving northwards fast through Leo near Jupiter.

[Dave In Vermont]

Some data with a chart for the 26th:

http://www.universetoday.com/118187/big-asteroid-2004-bl86-buzzes-earth-on-january-26-how-to-see-it-in-your-telescope/

Enjoy!

Dave

[stevend]

Nice links. I added this to the SGL calendar yesterday with a couple of other source links. http://stargazerslounge.com/calendar/event/1015-asteroid-2004-bl86-earth-flyby/.

[Moonshane]

this looks great.

[stevend]

SkyLive tracker: http://theskylive.com/2004bl86-tracker

Astronomy Now map: http://astronomynow.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/2004_BL86_finder_chart_to_magnitude_10_520x1364_greyscale.gif

It will be approx midway between delta Hydra and beta Cancer at c2330 and reach the Beehive Cluster/M44 around 0530 on the 27th.

Good luck everybody looking.

[mjpfc]

If the skies clear this is the best excuse for an for an all-nighter since the Geminids

Good luck all

Mick

[David Smith]

Hope to have look for this too.

[kerrylewis]

Gonna give this go - the forecast is looking promising to about 24.00. I've not seen a near Earth asteroid.

[David Smith]

Forecast here doesn't look promising but I have added it to Stellarium just in case I catch a break.

[happy-kat]

I have been trying to add it to stellarium did you do it by adding MPC data please?

I could not find it in the plugin list of objects.

I have printed one of the charts out and worked out the degrees between major objects to help know where to scan.

[stevend]

I have been trying to add it to stellarium did you do it by adding MPC data please?

I could not find it in the plugin list of objects.

Yes. Import MPC/Asteroids/download list from the internet/select NEA (near Earth Objects) and then look in the list (it is quite near the bottom).

[Davey-T]

Can't find it either it's got a search bar at the top but it comes up empty.

Dave

FOUND IT 

[happy-kat]

Just importing now, thank you for the correct nudge in the right direction.

Done added in.

[Moonshane]

Weather looks bobbins here but we live in hope

[lukebl]

One thing worth capturing is that it passes just a few arc-minutes from the bright galaxy M96 in Leo at about 23:30GMT this evening, then M105 25 minutes later. Pretty fast-moving, though.

[Dave In Vermont]

I've loaded it into The SkyX and have it's telemetry live. It's moving quite fast on the charts. Quite easy to see it's movement in it.

Next close one will be in 2027.

Clear Skies,

Dave

[David Smith]

Partly cloudy forecast for most of the evening here. Will see what comes!

[lukebl]

One thing worth capturing is that it passes just a few arc-minutes from the bright galaxy M96 in Leo at about 23:30GMT this evening, then M105 25 minutes later. Pretty fast-moving, though.

Whoops. Ignore that message. That data came from my SkySafari Pro, which seems to have incorrect data for the asteroid. According to my Carte du Ciel and other maps It doesn't go anywhere near those galaxies! Sorry.

[Pompey Monkey]

Some nice detailed charts linked from this page: http://britastro.org/computing/charts_asteroid.html

Clear skies!