Bright, Large asteroid 2012 LZ1 - [web link to orbit animation added]

[Allan_L (Allan)]

Just saw this today.
Couldn't see it posted anywhere else here:

Originally Posted by www.smh.com.au

An asteroid the size of a city block discovered by astronomers in Canberra will zoom past Earth but poses no risk of a collision.

The "unusually large" asteroid will not be visible to the naked eye but asteroid enthusiasts may watch it pass by during a live online broadcast, said Patrick Paolucci, president of the skywatchers' site, Slooh.

NASA has already catalogued 9000 such Near-Earth Objects, but astronomers are always on the lookout for new ones.

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"Once in awhile one will come out of nowhere like this one, which is actually pretty big," Paolucci told AFP.

"We were like, 'Wow, we should track this one."'

The asteroid, named 2012 LZ1, is thought to be about 500 metres wide, and is expected to pass within 14 times the Moon's distance from the Earth.

The massive object was discovered just days ago by Scottish-Australian astronomer Rob McNaught and colleagues at the Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics of the Australian National University.

The asteroid qualifies as a Near-Earth Object because of its size and proximity - more than 152 metres wide and within a distance of 7.5 million kilometres from Earth.

Paolucci said the asteroid's fly-by would be covered in real-time with footage from an observatory in the Canary Islands at Slooh.com beginning at 10am (AEST) on Friday.

AFP

Edit
web link to animation of orbit added from SLOOH
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VfqgY...yer_embedded#!

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

I'll be interested to know if we'll be able to capture it on a long exposure pic. And if it will be making it's closest approach for us tonight.

[Allan_L (Allan)]

Sorry JJJ.
Its already been and gone.
About 10:30 am this morning (15 June) AEST.
Rob McNaught did say on the telecast that it was unusually bright for an asteroid.

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

ahhh, not to worry.
thanks.

[Suzy]

Grumble, grumble grrrr
I just missed it too- I was asking about it on fb just earlier today.
I came across the article last night and minimised the link it to post and ask about it and then I forgot about it until half an hour ago. My head was busy being too busy to remember.

[Suzy]

I wonder if Jonathon (astrojunk) got any video footage of this...

[steve000 (Steve)]

http://www.space.com/16154-asteroid-...rth-flyby.html

[astroron (Ron)]

Originally Posted by Suzy

I wonder if Jonathon (astrojunk) got any video footage of this...

Doubt it Suzy it is in our daytime, Midnight UT.
Cheers

[Dennis]

I grabbed a few shots last night and will post the results when I get round to calibrating and processing the frames over the weekend.

It was unusually bright, at around mag 13.9 and showed clear movement in 60 second exposures. It took approx 30 or so frames to cross the 17 arc min field of my CCD camera.

Cheers

Dennis

[Lester]

Good on ya Dennis, looking forward to your image. I was keen to know the mag. of this object, thanks.

[astroron (Ron)]

Any one got any coordinates for this asteroid Please
Cheers

[Dennis]

Originally Posted by astroron

Any one got any coordinates for this asteroid Please
Cheers

Hi Ron

Last night it was moving pretty quickly so you would need to plot the coordinates in real time and then jump ahead to see if it pops into the field?

I obtained the asteroid data through The Sky X Pro (by name) and it downloaded the orbital elements and plotted the rock on my sky chart. I then slewed the ‘scope ahead and began snapping 60 sec images and waited until it popped into view.

This was of course easy with a GoTo mount connected to The Sky X Pro – I’d probably have failed miserably trying to star hop!

Here is a screen print for Brisbane, Fri June 15th at 10:00pm. The RA and DEC coordinates are in the text panel at left in screen capture.

Cheers

Dennis

[astroron (Ron)]

Originally Posted by Dennis

Hi Ron

Last night it was moving pretty quickly so you would need to plot the coordinates in real time and then jump ahead to see if it pops into the field?

I obtained the asteroid data through The Sky X Pro (by name) and it downloaded the orbital elements and plotted the rock on my sky chart. I then slewed the ‘scope ahead and began snapping 60 sec images and waited until it popped into view.

This was of course easy with a GoTo mount connected to The Sky X Pro – I’d probably have failed miserably trying to star hop!

Here is a screen print for Brisbane, Fri June 15th at 10:00pm. The RA and DEC coordinates are in the text panel at left in screen capture.

Cheers

Dennis

Thanks Dennis I have been able to download the coordinates into my Argo Navis from CBAT so all is well
Just got to see if it is visible in the 16"scope
Cheers

[hotspur (Chris)]

great work Dennis,well done,will this object be about tonight?or is it gone.

if its about how can I get coordinates ,BAS members coming up tonight-might be a item of interest.

look forward to your images Dennis.

cheers Chris

[Allan_L (Allan)]

Slooh LZ1 Asteroid Orbit Simulation

This video is unlisted.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VfqgY...yer_embedded#!