[BAA 00240] Apollo class asteroid 2004 XP14

[Rick]

BAA electronic bulletin No. 00240  http://www.britastro.org/

On the nights of 3rd and 4th July 2006 Apollo asteroid 2004 XP14 will make a close approach to the Earth. The motion of this asteroid should be visible when viewed with a medium sized telescope (typically a 10in/25cm reflector). At this magnitude it presents no problem to CCD imagers - except keeping track of the object that is! Observers may remember a similar pass by 2002 NY40 in 2002.

The closest approach to the Earth will be at 4:44 UT on 3rd July. At this time the asteroid will be just 268,873 miles from the Earth - not much further than the distance to the Moon.

From Europe the asteroid is best viewed on the night of the 3rd/4th July when it will be approximately 12th magnitude passing through the constellation of Draco. Its motion is quite rapid - around 1 arc min per minute. A finder chart (with commentary by Martin Mobberley) can be found on the member's section of the BAA website. Finder charts are also available on the ARPS website at http://homepage.ntlworld.com/roger.dymock/index.htm  I would strongly recommend accessing the Minor Planet Ephemeris Service at http://cfa-www.harvard.edu/iau/MPEph/MPEph.html for updated orbital elements and an ephemeris immediately before this event.

I would welcome observational details, images, etc from anyone who does observe this object.

Regards

Roger Dymock

Director Asteroids and Remote Planets Section, British Astronomical Association
BAA ARPS website; http://homepage.ntlworld.com/roger.dymock/index.htm