Just spotted your article on the asteroid for ABC Science, Ian!
Loved it and so well explained.
And the scale you explained with the ball and the sesame seed was great fun to read and picture in my head.
Quote:
West is best
Your view of this asteroid depends on the state you are in. People in Western Australia have the best view seeing nearly the entire asteroid flyby.
There the asteroid becomes bright enough to see in binoculars around 2:30 am local time. Naturally, the amount of local light pollution is important; people in the countryside with dark skies will be able to see the asteroid earlier and easier than those in light polluted suburbs.
The central states have the next best views, with the brightest part of the pass occurring around astronomical twilight, when the skies are still quite dark (an hour and a half before sunrise, Darwin sees it before astronomical twilight at around 4:30 am local time Adelaide after at around 5:30 am).
The eastern states don't do as well. Brisbane, Sydney and Hobart have the brightest part of the pass deep in the twilight. Melbourne and inland sites such as Canberra see a little bit of the pass before it disappears in the twilight.
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Lots more info
here, Ian gives the locations and approx. times where it'll be bright enough.