[BAA-ebulletin 00744] Bright near-Earth asteroid 1998 QE2 visible

[Rick]

[BAA-ebulletin 00744]  Bright near-Earth asteroid 1998 QE2 visible
(c) 2013 British Astronomical Association    http://www.britastro.org/

As I write this note (on May 31 at 20:50 UT), asteroid 1998 QE2 is making its closest approach to the Earth reaching a remarkably bright 10th magnitude as it does so. It will be visible from most locations on the Earth during the next week or so (June 1-8).

Radar observations made on May 29-30 from Goldstone have indicated that the object is around 2.7 km across. Radar has also revealed the presence of a companion object about 0.6 km in diameter in orbit around the primary. Even at closest approach, the system is about 16 times further from the Earth than is our Moon, and although it is moving at a relative speed of 6 km/s it is sufficiently far away that it appears to travel at a relatively sedate speed across the sky, climbing towards more northerly declinations as it does so.

I have put together an ephemeris for UK observers available at:

http://britastro.org/asteroids/index_files/1998QE2_2013June.txt

The object becomes increasingly easy to spot, with best viewing between June 3-6.

More information and other asteroid-related news is available on the ARPS News Page at: http://britastro.org/asteroids/

Richard Miles
Director, Asteroids and Remote Planets Section
2013 May 31