The BAA Radio Astronomy Group have issued the following bulletin:
Yesterday evening (UK time) astronomers using NASA's Deep Space Network antenna in Goldstone, California captured new radar images of Asteroid 2005 YU55 approaching the Earth. The images were taken about 19:45 UT on November 7 when this very dark object was still some 3.6 times the distance of the Moon away. Details can be found at:
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/asteroids/main/index.html http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/asteroids/news/yu55-20111107.html
NASA scientists will continue to track 2005 YU55 for at least four hours each day until November 10. Radar observations from the Arecibo Planetary Radar Facility in Puerto Rico will begin on November 8. The object will make its closest approach to Earth on November 8 at 23:28 UT at some 324,600 km or 0.85 the distance from the Moon to Earth.
Although UK observers are well placed to watch the last few hours of its approach, the weather prospects here are pretty dire for the entire country. However there are two 'live' broadcasts being organised via the Slooh organisation which you may be interested in. Details are at the Slooh website / Twitter at:
http://events.slooh.com http://twitter.com/#!/Slooh
In particular, two "radio shows" are planned for November 8th/9th, the first at 21:00 UT will hopefully show live images of 2005 YU55 using the Slooh Half-Metre telescope on Mount Teide, Tenerife, weather permitting; the second, at 02:00 UT (on the 9th) will be using Slooh's partner's 24" telescope based in Arizona. Both shows will be hosted by Bob Berman of Astronomy magazine. Dr. Robert McMillan (2005 YU55's discover) will be appearing as a guest during the first show. There is a possibility that, as the BAA's Asteroids and Remote Planets Section Director, I may also take part on the first radio show from 21:15 UT.
Richard Miles (arps [at] britastro.org)
Yahoo Radio Astronomy Group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/baa-rag
---- 73 Trevor M5AKA