Warp factor five Scotty

We've a while to wait... I'll probably be gone Martin but you and Conor might need to start building a shelter

2005 TF49 has its closest approach on October 18th 2073. It'll be 4.93 million Km away, provided any previous close passes haven't nudged it even closer :shock:

FYI - here is a list of closest approaches (sorted by distance) of asteroids we know about.

cfa-www.harvard.edu/iau/lists/PHACloseApp.html

Cheers
Dave

Thats an excellent animation, it really does look like the asteroid is tumbling/rotating, can you see any of this effect in the full res video??

Actually Dave, it does. But I'm certain its just an illusion.

Noise gives the impression that the asteroid is brightening then dimming. The changing seeing conditions alter the spread of light, so it also looks like its changing shape.

When I eventually get the photometry kit, I'll be able to you a scientific answer

Cheers
Dave

Cool animation Dave! Your flu must not be that bad after all:

I could almost swaer, that it you keep watching it play over and over, there is a pattern in its travel, that does make it look like it is tumbling... albeit very fast!

Not a lot to be done when you have flu other than sit at the PC and vegtate. Its either that or Judge Judy :roll:

Cheers

Dave

Great work Dave. Well done.