Asteroid will go Earth safely this week
Yet one more asteroid within the information! This one is rather less splashy than the latest disintegration of the 1-meter-wide asteroid over France, however observers with telescopes can watch it. The truth is, on latest nights, novice astronomers utilizing telescopes have already been capable of spot this bigger space rock that scientists estimate at virtually a 1/2-mile-wide (1-km-wide). This asteroid, 199145, is ready to soundly go by our planet on the night time 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 Probably 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 capable of seize the asteroid even in smaller telescopes.
This week, asteroid 2005 YY128 is having its closest method 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 go by our planet’s south pole at about 12 lunar distances. Its closest method will happen on February 15, 2023, round 7:46 p.m. EST.
The trail of the asteroid
The Apollo-type asteroid is touring by means of space at a pace of 55,140 miles per hour (88,740 km/h or 24.65 km/sec), relative to Earth. The space rock’s excessive pace permits novice astronomers to detect its movement in entrance of the celebs. Nonetheless, the space makes it seem as a slow-moving object.
This video exhibits asteroid 2005 YY128, which seems as a small shifting 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 get hold of radar pictures 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 night time of February 13, whereas these within the Southern Hemisphere will probably be favored through the asteroid’s closest method.
Star charts for asteroid 2005 YY128
Backside line: A 1/2-mile-wide (1-km-wide) asteroid will go Earth safely on February 15 and 16, 2023. Observers with telescopes can spot it. See star charts right here.
