Rumour of asteroids

[CedrikG]

Hey folks,

I read everywhere about an asteroid called 1999 FN53, supposed to do a close call on earth on may 14. I see no information about it on Nasa official web site so I was wondering if that was inaccurate.  If not, any chance we can observe it ?

[Ruud]

26.5 lunar distances is not that close, so I guess you'll need a big scope to see it or photograph it.

[ronin]

http://echo.jpl.nasa.gov/asteroids/1999FN53/1999FN53_planning.html

Says closest point is 26.5 times the lunar orbit.

Big whatsit so might be visible depending on time and location.

Bit odd as there is bery little about it, except in various on-line news papers.

[CedrikG]

I had no read about the distance, indeed its pretty far.
I just found it odd that Nasa say nothing about it.

[gkec]

I had no read about the distance, indeed its pretty far.

I just found it odd that Nasa say nothing about it.

Probably because it is not that unusual, just a bit bigger than normal

http://neo.jpl.nasa.gov/ca/

It is the media who are blowing it up out of all proportion as usual.

[CedrikG]

haha, well said, Thanks for the link!