Asteroid (7482) 1994 PC1 passing by

[Finbar]

A heads up. This asteroid, (7482) 1994 PC1, is passing by. Its closest point is at 07:51 AEST/QLD time (18 Jan, 21:51 UTC) on 19 January, so best viewing night of 18 January.

I downloaded the data into Stellarium, which indicates that for us up here in the Cairns region it will be about 3° north of our zenith around 19:30, setting just south of west around 00:30. Magnitude 10 it will be observable by telescope, and at 19.56 km per second it is more than fast enough to be obviously moving against the stars - but it is badly timed because it is just hours after the full moon. :(

Northern latitudes should make for easier viewing but for our wet season clouds.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/(7482)_1994_PC1 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/(7482)_1994_PC1)

sciencealert.com (https://www.sciencealert.com/a-massive-asteroid-2-5x-the-height-of-empire-state-building-will-safely-pass-earth-next-week?fbclid=IwAR06suAbMYHSI0kpIctNZ _wfNNz83fNfx_W6yTRaHZQixtWOnJiVXlbu NHM)

Cheers all,
Barry

[mswhin63]

I managed to get some images of it and just in 2 days it is noticeably faster. I was hoping to keep capturing but the clouds have rolled in and possibly here to stay. I am going to post my images when I have processed them.

I expect it will cross my scope view in its closet approach in a short time. I am running a 480mm with a 450D and they are no pin point object anymore.

[Finbar]

If not too late, tonight may be easiest to find this asteroid in Eridanus approaching 4th mag star Beemim (upsilon3 Eri; HIP 20535) and passing it around 22:40 AEST (12:40 UTC). Also, from southern locales it is closest to your zeniths tonight - these few major places given for rough indication:
Brisbane, alt 82.5° transiting meridian at 20:32 our time.
Sydney, alt c.89° transiting at 20:39 your time.
Melbourne, alt c.87° transiting at 21:03 your time.
Adelaide, alt c.89.5° transiting at 20:57 your time.
Perth, alt 88.25° transiting at 20:53 your time.

It is all cloud up here, so nothing for me.
Clear skies to you!
Barry

[EpickCrom]

Thanks Barry, I will try to check out this rare Astronomical event tonight here in Perth!:thanx:

Joe

[JA]

She's comin' in hot .... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/(7482)_1994_PC1#/media/File:Animation_of_1994_PC1_around_S un_-_2022_close_approach.gif

At about 1km in diameter and 2 Million Kilometers away, its angular size is tiny - 0.1 arcseconds in diameter.

Best
JA

[Finbar]

Of course those times were for last night. It has already moved to the other side of constellation Eridanus, and moves into Cetus tonight.

Today it transits the meridian in most places too early to be visible. I've snipped a screen shot from Stellarium showing the approximate track (yellow/orange line) over about 5 hours from 7:30pm QLD time. Movement is from the upper end of the line.

And, damn, it is all cloud here.