Sunday, January 25, 2015
UPDATE: Seeing the Close Flyby of NEO 2004 BL86 10 pm 26 January, 2015
 | .png) |
| The position of asteroid 2004 BL68 as seen at 22:00 ACDST on the evening of 26 January 2015 from Adelaide. Similar views will be seen at 22:30 AEDST and 21:30 AEST. Click to embiggen | Approximate binocular view of asteroid 2004 BL68 as seen at 22:00 and 23:00 ACDST on the evening of 26 January 2015 from Adelaide. Similar views will be seen at 22:30 and 23:30 AEDST and 21:30- 22:30 AEST. Click to embiggen |
In my previous article on 2004 BL86 I explained in detail how to see this NEO at its brightest ... at around 4:30 am in the morning when it is close to the bright open cluster M48. For those of you who want to see it on the night of the 26th, before heading to bed, I've created these instructions.
You will need a telescope, not a fancy one, but a telescope none the less. Finding the asteroid will be harder as it is dimmer, and there is no obvious bright feature to use as a guide. But while harder it is well worth the effort.
 |  |
| Printable black and white horizon chart facing east an hour and a half after sunset on the 26th showing the location of 2004 BL86 as seen from Adelaide. Similar views will be seen from East coast and central locations at the equivalent local time. WA sees the asteroid further along in its path. Click to embiggen and print | Printable black and white binocular chart showing the location of 2004 BL86 at 22:00 to midnight ACDST on the evening of 26 January 2015 from Adelaide. Similar views will be seen from 22:30 AEDST and 21:30 AEST. The large circle is approximately the field of view of 10x50 binoculars. The small circle the approximate field of view of a 25 mm eyepiece with a 114 mm Newtonian telescope. Click to embiggen and print. |
To find the asteroid, again we will use bright stars as a landmark. If you draw a line between Jupiter and Canopus (the brightest and third brightest objects in the sky at this time), then draw a line perpendicular from Sirius (the second brightest object in that part of the sky) to the Jupiter - Canopus line, the intersection is where the asteroid will be.
In binoculars or a telescopes finder scope you will see a triangle of stars. The faint star at the apex of the triangle is 11 Pupis. The asteroid zooms past this star as seen from the eastern and central states. From WA, by the time the sky is darkenough, the asteroid is well below 11 Puppis, but you can use the charts to sweep down and find it.
With your telescope a wide field eye piece, first centre 11 Pupis in the eyepiece, then move it so 11 Puppis is at the western edge of the eyepiece. The asteroid should be visible as a faint dot on the western side, moving slowly but inexorably across the stars.
The printable charts above will be needed help you find the asteroid.Remember, when looking for the asteroid allow at least 5 minutes or more (10 is better) for your eyes to adjust and become dark adapted. Here's some hints on dark adaption of your eyes. If using the charts above, cover your torch with red cellophane so as to not destroy your night vision.
Labels: asteroids, NEO, telescope
# posted by Ian Musgrave @ 10:44 am 
Click to read about or order
Click to read about or order
Click to read about or order
Click to read about or order
