Passing within 0.85 lunar distances to earth, C-type asteroid 2005 YU55 comes again as a successor to the more infamous Comet Elenin, of which instilled fear into the hearts of many. Although no true connection links Elenin with 2005 YU55, it brings prognostication to those who thought Elenin brought the end of the world. At 23:28 UT on November 8, 2011, this asteroid will fly closest to earth. Come here for ephemerides
"An asteroid, bigger than an aircraft carrier, will have a date with Earth early on Tuesday but to the relief of the planet's inhabitants, it poses no danger," NDTV writes. This is surely no passing date - astronomers have been watching this asteroid since early 2011, something which might have not happened if this asteroid was not that important. To give a background of this asteroid, we must first go to the date in which it was discovered: December 28, 2005. It is approximately 400 meters in diameter, and has a magnitude of 21.9, which is very dim (magnitude six is about the farthest you can see with your eye alone). The magnitude of the object on date will be (the brightest) 11.1, interesting, becasue the magnitude on the 8th (mag 26.2) and the 10th (13.7) are so dramatically different.
Amazing to note, 2005 YU55 passed 0.5 lunar distances in 1976, closer than it will on November 8, 2011. (Astronomers did not know of this approach). On November 8, 2011 at approximately 23:38 UT, this foreboding asteroid will make its closest approach to earth: approximately 0.85 lunar distances, or .085 the distance of the earth to the moon (0.00217 AU, Astronomical Units; 325,000 km; 202,000 mi). The next day (11-9-11), 2005 YU55 will pass 0.00160 Au from the moon, a waxing gibbous. (This event will take place at 07:13 UT, reaching a magnitude 11.1, much brighter than its usual magnitude). 2005 YU55 orbits by earth every 1.22 years, although never as close as it does occasionally.
Astronomical Information of 2005 YU55:
"Although classified as a potentially hazardous object, 2005 YU55 poses no threat of an Earth collision over at least the next 100 years. However, this will be the closest approach to date by an object this large that we know about in advance and an event of this type will not happen again until 2028 when asteroid (153814) 2001 WN5 will pass to within 0.6 lunar distances." (NASA) As NASA wrote, this will be the closest approach of any asteroid until 2028. 2005 YU55 is a big event - so watch the heavens as this "potentially hazardous" object flies past our blue planet!
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Elenin is gone for good! BUT, more people have been foreboding the approach of this asteroid (2005 YU55). Read this YouTube Video title (it is very comical and the writer of the title should be given laud for doing such a great job!) :
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| This radar image of asteroid 2005 YU55 was generated from data taken in April of 2010 by the Arecibo Radar Telescope in Puerto Rico. Image credit: NASA/Cornell/Arecibo |
"An asteroid, bigger than an aircraft carrier, will have a date with Earth early on Tuesday but to the relief of the planet's inhabitants, it poses no danger," NDTV writes. This is surely no passing date - astronomers have been watching this asteroid since early 2011, something which might have not happened if this asteroid was not that important. To give a background of this asteroid, we must first go to the date in which it was discovered: December 28, 2005. It is approximately 400 meters in diameter, and has a magnitude of 21.9, which is very dim (magnitude six is about the farthest you can see with your eye alone). The magnitude of the object on date will be (the brightest) 11.1, interesting, becasue the magnitude on the 8th (mag 26.2) and the 10th (13.7) are so dramatically different.
Amazing to note, 2005 YU55 passed 0.5 lunar distances in 1976, closer than it will on November 8, 2011. (Astronomers did not know of this approach). On November 8, 2011 at approximately 23:38 UT, this foreboding asteroid will make its closest approach to earth: approximately 0.85 lunar distances, or .085 the distance of the earth to the moon (0.00217 AU, Astronomical Units; 325,000 km; 202,000 mi). The next day (11-9-11), 2005 YU55 will pass 0.00160 Au from the moon, a waxing gibbous. (This event will take place at 07:13 UT, reaching a magnitude 11.1, much brighter than its usual magnitude). 2005 YU55 orbits by earth every 1.22 years, although never as close as it does occasionally.
Astronomical Information of 2005 YU55:
Aphelion 1.6329 AU (Q)
Perihelion 0.65241 AU (q)
Semi-major axis 1.1427 AU (a)
Eccentricity 0.42905
Orbital period 1.22 yr
Mean anomaly 26.094° (M)
Inclination 0.51351°
Longitude of ascending node 39.304°
Argument of perihelion 268.79°
"Although classified as a potentially hazardous object, 2005 YU55 poses no threat of an Earth collision over at least the next 100 years. However, this will be the closest approach to date by an object this large that we know about in advance and an event of this type will not happen again until 2028 when asteroid (153814) 2001 WN5 will pass to within 0.6 lunar distances." (NASA) As NASA wrote, this will be the closest approach of any asteroid until 2028. 2005 YU55 is a big event - so watch the heavens as this "potentially hazardous" object flies past our blue planet!
_________________________________
Elenin is gone for good! BUT, more people have been foreboding the approach of this asteroid (2005 YU55). Read this YouTube Video title (it is very comical and the writer of the title should be given laud for doing such a great job!) :
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