Update at 2:45 PM ET: Virtual Telescope Project’s webcast of Asteroid 2023 BU is now scheduled 3:15 PM EST (2015 GMT) Because of the clouds.
A newly discovered asteroid will make its closest approach to Earth this week.
Asteroid 2023 BU measures 12 to 28 feet across (3.8 to 8.5 meters) and was discovered Saturday (Jan. 21) by astronomer Gennady Borisov at the Marko Observatory in Crimea. When it passes Earth at 4:17 PM EST (2117 GMT) on Thursday (Jan. 26), the space rock will be less than 3% of the average Earth-the moon A distance of just 2,178 miles (3,506 kilometers) above Earth’s surface.
In comparison, most geography satellites About 22,200 miles (35,800 km) in orbit
Most asteroids are not bright enough to see without a powerful telescope; Fortunately, you can see Asteroid Thanks to the Virtual Telescope Project 2023 BU made a close encounter with our planet. Astronomer Gianluca Massi provides a free live broadcast of the asteroid’s passage. Project website (opens in new tab) Or YouTube channel (opens in new tab) Starting Thursday (Jan. 26). 3:15 PM EST (2015 GMT) After a brief delay due to clouds at the project’s Secano, Italy observatory.
Related: Asteroids: Fun facts and information about these space rocks
The asteroid is present Ursa major Constellation. Because of its small size, asteroid 2023 BU is very faint at magnitude 19.15, but it is visible with powerful binoculars operated by an experienced skywatcher.
Fortunately for us non-asteroid chasers, the Virtual Telescope Project will stream the entire thing. “Asteroid 2023 BU will come close, but safe, to meet us [within] “At 10,000 km from the center of the Earth, about 25% of the distance of geostationary satellites,” Masi writes in the project. Website (opens in new tab).
Asteroid 2023 BU is known as an Apollo-type asteroid, meaning its orbit crosses Earth but spends most of its time outside our planet’s orbit. Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (opens in new tab), It is located at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California. 2023 BU orbits the Sun every 425 days and will not approach our planet again until December 6, 2036.
Asteroid 2023 BU will pass closest Earth, which is not classified as hazardous. Because of its small size it can break and burn Earth’s atmosphere.
Hoping to catch a glimpse of asteroid 2023 BU? Our guides Best binoculars And Best binoculars Might help start you on the path to perfect optics. You can also check out our guides The best cameras for astrophotography And Best lenses for astrophotography To begin with.
Editor’s note: If you were able to capture a photo of asteroid 2023 BU and would like to share it with Space.com readers, please send your photo(s), comments, and your name and location to [email protected].
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