[BAA-ebulletin 00694] Close approach of newly-discovered asteroid, 2012 QG42
BAA electronic bulletins service
baa-ebulletin at britastro.org
Fri Aug 31 11:55:02 BST 2012
Discovered by the Catalina Sky Survey on 2012 Aug 26, this relatively large
near-Earth asteroid will be readily observable for northern hemisphere
observers between September 4-14 during which time it will attain magnitude
15.0 or brighter. The object probably measures between 200-500 m across and
is a current radar target. It will be brightest around September 10-12 when
it will reach V=13.6 on average. It passes closest to us around 05h UT on
September 14 at a range of about 7.4 lunar-distances (0.019 AU).
2012 QG42 is a potentially hazardous asteroid (PHA) and is unusual in that
it passes very close to the opposition point on September 7. The
circumstances of this close approach therefore makes this object a good
target for photometry (using a V, R or r' filter if possible) as well as
other physical studies. An ephemeris with visibility details for UK
observers is available at:
http://www.britastro.org/~rmiles/Documents/2012QG42_MPC_J77.txt
If you are planning to observe this target then please consult the Minor
Planet Center ephemeris service:
http://www.minorplanetcenter.net/iau/MPEph/MPEph.html
to obtain exact positions for an observatory location near to your site at
the time you require.
Clear skies,
Richard Miles
Director, Asteroids and Remote Planets Section
arps [at] britastro.org
2012 August 31
(bcc copied to BAA members and to ARPS members)
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