A close shave!

From Terry:

1. A close shave! We will have our closest yet predicted near-miss by an asteroid, called MN4, on Friday 13 April! So who says Friday 13 is unlucky?! The asteroid, almost a quarter of a mile wide, was originally estimated to be on a one-in-60 chance collision course with the planet, though most observers now believe it will definitely miss.
However, the asteroid will come so close that it will pass between the Earth and orbiting telecommunications satellites - and, at 22,600 miles, will be the nearest predicted miss yet. It will be visible with the naked eye from the UK mainland.
If the asteroid were to hit Earth, the resulting explosion would be the equivalent to a direct strike with 20 hydrogen bombs. Vast areas of the planet would be transformed into wasteland, or, if it hit the ocean, a giant tsunami would be generated.
Professor Mark Bailey, director of the Armagh Observatory, said: "I think everyone is saying that it is going to miss, though you will be able to see it with a small telescope or even the naked eye. "It is like being on a train station platform and watching an express train go by three feet away. "You're close but it's not dangerous."

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I'll try and get a starchart together later. -Al

I think this is the one that's arriving in 2026.

But it'd be nice to have the charts available well in advance....

I think this is the one that's arriving in 2026.

2029 actually! Bet it will be cloudy

According to an article in the Irish Independant of 15/02/05, it IS 2029, so there is plenty of time for star charts, I think?!