Say hello to YU55

LabR@t · 1 Nov 2011 at 21:48

http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/highlights/133013563.html

Roll out the red carpet! Earth is about to be visited by the largest close-approaching asteroid on record. Known as 2005 YU55, it comes closest to us on November 8th at 23:28 Universal Time (6:28 pm EST), when it passes 198,000 miles (319,000 km) from Earth's surface — closer than the Moon's orbit.

Looking forward to catching a glimpse of this ! Hopefully clear skies next week

bushmins · 1 Nov 2011 at 21:51

Bloody hell dont look at it, have you not seen the documentary 'Day of the Triffids'?

George Hincapie · 1 Nov 2011 at 21:51

That's pretty close! Will it be visible by the naked eye?

Kenai · 1 Nov 2011 at 21:52

George Hincapie said:
That's pretty close! Will it be visible by the naked eye?

No, just the fully clothed eye, as it's a little bit prudish.

LabR@t · 1 Nov 2011 at 21:54

The Arecibo observations showed this asteroidal emissary to be a quarter mile (400 m) across !

Amateur asteroid sleuths Brian Warner and Robert Stephens have mounted a campaign to obtain detailed photometry (brightness measurements) of the asteroid. You'll need at least a 10- or 12-inch scope, a CCD camera, and ideally one or more of the filters commonly used by professional astronomers

Oh bugger ! not going to see nowt

Just as well .

In the grand scheme of things it's more micro-planet than minor planet, but we've never knowingly had something this big come this close before. Were it to strike Earth, 2005 YU55 would deliver a kinetic-energy punch equivalent to several thousand megatons of TNT. It's the kind of potential threat that outer-space sentries lose sleep over.

Reginald · 1 Nov 2011 at 21:55

George Hincapie · 1 Nov 2011 at 21:55

Kenai said:
No, just the fully clothed eye, as it's a little bit prudish.

Unlike you, tiger!

Edrof · 1 Nov 2011 at 21:55

If we convince all the estate agents, ******, doctor's receptionists and chavs to stand in a big human pyramid it might do us a favour and lop a few thousand of them off on its way past.

EdGey · 1 Nov 2011 at 22:30

Cool

Globul · 2 Nov 2011 at 00:22

I love stuff like this but I always miss it due to lack of telescope or poor weather

I had a telescope when I was younger and loved looking through it at the moon and seeing the craters on it, standing out side with my dad at night. I think my step-dad threw it away though, because it disappeared from my room one day

2StepSteve · 2 Nov 2011 at 00:26

Judgeneo · 2 Nov 2011 at 00:32

So will we need a telescope?

EdGey · 2 Nov 2011 at 00:39

Judgeneo said:
So will we need a telescope?

Yes I think so.

robfosters · 2 Nov 2011 at 02:43

Can I get a decent one for £200?

Hotwired · 2 Nov 2011 at 04:22

I'd save the £200 and look at the pretty pictures someone took from a £5 million telescope for the media.

TwsT · 2 Nov 2011 at 06:51

Hotwired said:
I'd save the £200 and look at the pretty pictures someone took from a £5 million telescope for the media.

yup

Edrof · 2 Nov 2011 at 07:00

Hotwired said:
I'd save the £200 and look at the pretty pictures someone took from a £5 million telescope for the media.

cainer · 2 Nov 2011 at 07:03

robfosters said:
Can I get a decent one for £200?

i doubt you would be able to track it without a computerized motor to move it, i think youd have to spend much more to do it right

Narj · 2 Nov 2011 at 07:34

Am I the only one thinking how cool it could be if it smacked into the moon - what a show that would be (although knowing my luck it'd be on an overcast night).

Cosimo · 2 Nov 2011 at 07:55

I'll just sit back and let NASA track it:

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/asteroids/news/yu55-20111025.html

and wait for all the doomsday merchants to come out of the woodwork again to get some laughs.