Asteroid 2012 DA14: First Images of Space Rock Approaching Earth - East Idaho News
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Asteroid 2012 DA14: First Images of Space Rock Approaching Earth

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Getty 021413 Asteroid?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1360877304015Illustration. Gary Cornhouse/Thinkstock(WASHINGTON) — Asteroid 2012 DA14 makes its closest approach to Earth at 2:25 p.m. ET Friday, and the world’s astronomers have been on the lookout for it.

Take a look at the sequence of images below, sent by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory from the Faulkes Telescope South, in Siding Springs, Australia.

These pictures were taken when the asteroid was still about 465,000 miles away from earth.  Most of the dots in these enlarged images are stars in the distant background. The asteroid stands out because it is moving in front of them. NASA says the animation was created by astronomers at the Remanzacco Observatory in Italy.

ht nasa asteroid wy 130214 wmain?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1360874959628LCOGT/Faulkes via NASA/JPL

The asteroid is on a gently curving path that will take it from south to north, best seen Friday from Asia, Australia and parts of Europe.  It will be passing over the night side of Earth (the Eastern hemisphere; the U.S. will be in daylight) when it’s closest.

Bob Berman, an astronomer who writes a column for Astronomy magazine and also works with Slooh.com, a space website, said the asteroid will still be a dot, slightly too dim to be seen with the naked eye, when it comes closest — about 17,220 miles away — on Friday.   Like most scientists, he’s not worried about this one.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

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