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

[BAA electronic bulletins service]

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