An asteriod about a mile, wide is passing by.
About 2.5 million miles away. Can we see it.
2007-03-31 15:27:14 · 14 answers · asked by raybbies 5 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Yes !
As an astronomer I have been watching / tracking it here at our observatory .
Passing over observers in Southern California. It's predicted to be magnitude 10.0 at its brightest, which would normally make it visible through small telescopes. But it's quite close in the sky to a nearly full Moon, which will make the observation more challenging.
Here is a story that was faxed to us today.
http://skytonight.com/observing/home/2006VV2.html
Hunting Asteroids From Your Backyard
http://skytonight.com/observing/objects/asteroids/3305146.html
2007-03-31 17:17:18 · answer #1 · answered by spaceprt 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Bet the aliens who wanted to get off a earth are not happy. Must be an express asteriod
2007-03-31 15:32:43 · answer #2 · answered by dixidan_2000 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
No way our unaided eyes can see anything a mile wide from 2.5 million miles away. We need telescopes to see something that small that far away.
2007-03-31 15:33:41 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I followed the astronomers direction from the sites he posted and i found it! In my 12 inch dobsonian.
if you see it by a star .. write down if the star is there or not .. if it is then isn't later then there again .. the asteroid passed by .
I was out for 4 hours and noticed the change of it's passing.
Astro is awesome!
2007-03-31 17:19:58 · answer #4 · answered by Keera 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No way. I doubt if a powerful telescope could see it .Probably a radio telescope could detect it with a signal bouncing back to earth which would give information about it at the observatory.
2007-03-31 16:25:28 · answer #5 · answered by ROBERT P 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Yes, but not with the naked eye. The optics required to see it are fairly expensive to obtain and only dedicated hobbiest stargazers will have the equipment to see it.
2007-03-31 15:31:07 · answer #6 · answered by millercommamatt 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Of course not. You're probably confusing your question for a meteor, visible because it is in contact with Earth's atmosphere hence causing frictional forces to act on it, in turn creating heat and light, making it possible for us to see it with the naked eye.
2007-03-31 15:59:08 · answer #7 · answered by Geddy_V 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋
From the Hubble Space Telescope all things are possible, but last I heard the Hubble was broken, so i really cannot say.
2007-03-31 15:56:59 · answer #8 · answered by zahbudar 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Does it matter since it is only passing by?
Only worry about the ones that are going to hit, you will get more sleep that way!
2007-03-31 15:51:24 · answer #9 · answered by Imperator 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Yes !!! but you have to be standing on one leg, with one finger in your left ear, your hair shaved off and wearing an apron ???
2007-03-31 15:41:42 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋