Just Received This E-Mail..

[Greg]

A large asteroid will make an exceptionally close approach to our planet early on July 3, passing just beyond the Moon's average distance from Earth.

Named 2004 XP14, it will pass closest to Earth at 0:42 UT on July 3 (12:25 a.m. EDT or 9:25 pm PDT on July 2).

Even for experienced backyard astronomers, this asteroid will be challenging to spot. Those who have an eight-inch or larger aperture telescope with moderate-to-high magnification and are blessed with dark, transparent skies and steady "seeing" may probably have a good chance of catching a glimpse of it.

Starry Night users can see its exact location instantaneously. Be sure to update your "Comets /Asteroids/Satellites" data, and then simply type "2004 XP14" in the Find pane.

If you don't own Starry Night, you can buy Digital Download to view where and when the comet might be seen in your part of the world.

http://store.yahoo.com/cgi-bin/clink?yhst-49664100110157+wT339H+dd4-core-esd.html

Click here to buy Starry Night Digital Download:

http://store.starrynightstore.com/dd4-core-esd.html

Check out the SPACE.com article on how to spot the asteroid:

http://www.space.com/spacewatch/060629_night_sky.html

Happy Hunting!

The Starry Night Team

And Greg!!

[Greg]

Our best view will be on 3rd July from 2300hrs....

Never tried to spot an asteroid...

[Lunatone]

Many thanks Greg.

Will be watching this one - if I get to see it that is - just hope it keeps on course

Regards,

Dave.

[Kain]

Is it an asteroid or comet? Some reports are calling it one thing, others calling it something else..

Kain

[Greg]

Space news are calling it an Asteroid....???

[Astroman]

It's an asteroid, and we'llbe monitoring it July 2 from Stone Haven and other sites aroung Arizona. That is, if it's clear. It's been cloudy and nasty lately, but no rain, of course....

[daz]

Cloud?

In Arizona??

Just stop trying to make us feel better, OK! :)

[Astroman]

Monsoons "officially" began Sunday, but we've had the weather pattern for a week before that. You know how I've said that Arizona has ~300 clear days/year? Well, this is the time we scratch 30 or 40 of them. And the nights is starts clear can be exciting. I posted a story about this somewhere in ere before....Let me find it.