In this oblique view, the path of near-Earth asteroid
2012 DA14 is seen passing close to Earth on Feb. 15, 2013.
Discovered by the LaSagra observatory in southern Spain, the small
asteroid 2012 DA14 will pass within about 3.5 Earth radii of the Earth's
surface on February 15, 2013. Although its size is not well
determined, this near-Earth asteroid is thought to be about 45
meters in diameter. Asteroid 2012 DA14 will pass inside the geosynchronous
satellite ring, located about 35,800 km above the equator.
Its orbit about the sun can bring it no closer
to the Earth's surface than 3.2 Earth radii on February 15, 2013.
On this date, the asteroid will travel
rapidly from the southern evening sky into the northern morning sky
with its closest Earth approach occurring about 19:26 UTC when it will
achieve a magnitude of less than seven, which is somewhat fainter than
naked eye visibility. About 4 minutes after its Earth close approach,
there is a good chance it will pass into the Earth's shadow for about 18 minutes or so
before reappearing from the eclipse. When traveling rapidly into the
northern morning sky, 2012 DA14 will quickly fade in brightness.
Source: NASA
