Astroblog: NEO 2012 QG42 11-09-12

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

NEO 2012 QG42 11-09-12

NEO 2012 QG42 imaged using the iTelescope T5 instrument on 11 September 2012. This is a stack of 15 x 60 second images. The stacked in ImageJ and a Max intensity Z project made, then despeckeled. The images have variations in brightness which may indicate it is rotating. Click to embiggen.

Near Earth Object 2012 QG42 is a recently discovered relatively bright NEO. It is a 375 metre diameter rock that will be 7.4 Earth-Moon distances from us at closest approach on September 14 at 05:08 UT.

Un-calibrated intensity of each asteroid image obtained using ImageJ. This suggests the asteroid is rotating rapidly.

As it comes closer to Earth it appears to be moving faster. For my previous images and animation (using 120 second exposures rather than the 60 seond ones here) see here.

Here's my video made from my image sequence.

Labels: animation, asteroids, iTelescope, NEO