American Meteor Society » Vincent Perlerin http://www.rru.com Thu, 11 Jul 2013 18:01:38 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 Asteroid 1998 QE2 http://www.rru.com/2013/05/asteroid-1998-qe2/ http://www.rru.com/2013/05/asteroid-1998-qe2/#comments Thu, 30 May 2013 09:47:44 +0000 Vincent Perlerin http://www.amsmeteors.org/?p=2981 1998 QE2The massive asteroid 1998 QE2 will pass 6.2 million kilometres (3.8 million miles) from the Earth on Friday, May 31st 2013 at 4:59pm EDT (20:59 UT.) We believe 1998 QE2 is as large as 9 times the size of the… Read More >]]> The massive asteroid 1998 QE2 will pass 6.2 million kilometres (3.8 million miles) from the Earth on Friday, May 31st 2013 at 4:59pm EDT (20:59 UT.) We believe 1998 QE2 is as large as 9 times the size of the 12-decked cruise liner Queen Elizabeth II (QE2 :) . A hypotethical impact from an asteroid this big would be catastrophic… but no worries this time. The passage is over 15 times as distant as the Earth’s Moon.

“QE 2″ is not an homage to England’s Queen Elizabeth II. Newfound asteroids are named according to an established alphanumeric scheme that lays out when it was discovered.

The asteroid will be cruising through the Hydra constellation on its way north into Libra on Friday 31th. You might actually be able to see it, if you happen to have access to a decent telescope as the asteroid will never top +10 magnitude – which is the general threshold for binocular viewing under dark skies. The asteroid will look like a tiny moving star-like point.

The official Nasa and ESA line is that our best form of defence against the potentially dangerous Near Earth Asteroids is still prayer…

Clear sky!

More info:

Update May 30th, 2:32 PM Eastern: The asteroid has a moon! Here’s a stunning video from NASA’s JPL of the asteroid that reveals a satellite orbiting it.

1998 QE2


]]> http://www.rru.com/2013/05/asteroid-1998-qe2/feed/ 4 Meteor Terminology http://www.rru.com/2013/03/meteor-terminology/ http://www.rru.com/2013/03/meteor-terminology/#comments Fri, 08 Mar 2013 14:30:54 +0000 Vincent Perlerin http://www.amsmeteors.org/?p=2530 Ams Meteor TerminologyHave you ever wondered what’s the difference between a meteor and a meteorite or an asteroid, meteoroid or comet? Here are the answers to all your questions regarding Meteor Terminology. Meteor Terminology: Comet, Asteroid, Meteroid, Meteor, Meteorite, Fireball and Bolid]]> Have you ever wondered what’s the difference between a meteor and a meteorite or an asteroid, meteoroid or comet? Here are the answers to all your questions regarding Meteor Terminology.

Ams Meteor Terminology Meteor Terminology: Comet, Asteroid, Meteroid, Meteor, Meteorite, Fireball and Bolid

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