2007 TU24 - A Close Shave

How about this one:
ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/sbdb.cgi?sstr=2007%20TU24;orb=1
It says MOID=.0012 this means inside lunar orbit.
or this one:
www.lpl.arizona.edu/css/css_sss_newdisc.html
It says MOID=.00096 which is even closer.
(MOID=Minimum Orbit Intersection Distance)

Dragon,

The MOID is the minimum distance between the two orbits, that is very different to the delta value given. That just means that according to the current orbital model there is a potential for the Earth and the asteroid to be that far apart at some indetermined date in the future. The important value this time round is the delta value given which specifies the actual separation (in AU's at the epoch given.) The current model places the delta value at .00370479766527 on 2007-01-29 08:12UT.

This relates to an actual distance of 554,232kms. The true geocentric distance of the Moon at that instant is 402,303.6 Kms meaning TU24 will be 1.377 lunar distances away from us.

Jeeez Dave,

Last time I met you I know we were talking the English language but it took me three times reading that one just to confirm it :lol:

Hi lads,

just wondering is this visible with out camera shots? could i point and see with my scope

excuse my ignorance!

Cool!
Thats some speed >2as/s, but at mag 12 at its best you'll need atleast an 8 inch scope to see it, maybe a 10" under light polluted skies.
Lets hope its clear!!

Hi,

Have a go at this one. It should be a little easier than Near Earth Asteroid 2005 WJ56 which I observed earlier in the month (January 2008).

2005 WJ56 was about mag 11 and half when I observed it near Pi Aur in my 25cm reflector. Its movement was noticable in under a minute.

John