New Close Approach by Asteroid 2012 TC4

Asteroid 2012 TC4 was discovered by F51 Pan-STARRS 1, Haleakala on images taken on 2012, Oct. 04.4 with a 1.8-m Ritchey-Chretien + CCD. Just eight days after its discovery, on 2012 Oct. 12, this object passed at about 0.25 LD from Earth. 

After exactly 5 years, 2012 TC4 will have a new close approach with our planet that will provide astronomers with a valuable opportunity to learn more about its orbit and composition and to test the network of observatories and scientists who work with planetary defense. This asteroid was not observed since the week it was discovered in October 2012 and it has been recovered by astronomers using one of the European Southern Observatory's 8.2-meter telescopes at the Very Large Telescope (VLT) on July 27, 2017 at an apparent magnitude of 26.8 (making it the faintest Near Earth Asteroid so far measured).

Credit: ESO/ESA NEOCC/Hainaut (ESO), Micheli (ESA) & Koschny (ESA)

2012 TC4 has an estimated size of 12 m - 27 m (H=26.7) and it will have a close approach with Earth at about 0.13 LD (Lunar Distances = ~384,000 kilometers) or 0.00034 AU (1 AU = ~150 million kilometers) at 0542 UT on 12 Oct. 2017 and it will reach the peak magnitude ~13. (For comparison, the asteroid that hit Earth’s atmosphere near Chelyabinsk, Russia, in February 2013 was roughly 20 meters across). The rapid rotation and lightcurve amplitude (rotation period of 0.2038 hours with a brightness variation of 0.93 magnitude) suggest that the 2012 TC4 is an elongated, monolithic body (a rubble pile would have spun itself apart). Non-principal axis rotation suggests that it probably has a complex (non-ellipsoidal) shape. 2012 TC4 should be detectable at Goldstone from about Oct. 9 - 16, but not at the moment of closest approach, when it will be too far south for Goldstone to track.

Below you can see my image (single 120-second exposure) of 2012 TC4 obtained on 2017, Oct. 11.35, few hours before its close approach. At the moment of the shot, the asteroid was of magnitude ~15.9 and moving at ~24"/min. The asteroid is trailed in the image due to its fast speed. Click on the image below to see a bigger version. (North is up, East is to the left). 

The short animation below is showing the movement of 2012 TC4 (two consecutive 120-second exposure). Click on the thumbnail below to see the animation (North is up, East is to the left).

Thanks to the new observations following its 2017 recovery, it became clear that new orbit solution precludes a possible impact in 2050: "2012 TC4 would miss the keyhole that would lead to an impact with Earth in 2050. This plot shows the b-plane—the asymptotic location of TC4 relative to the Earth before the Earth's gravity starts bending the trajectory of TC4. The b-plane intersections for progressive orbit solutions is shown by the ellipses (dashed lines show 1-σ uncertainties, solid lines show 3-σ uncertainties), while the red dots show the b-plane coordinates that lead to an impact in 2050. Starting with the Sept 28 solution, the 3-σ uncertainites fall well clear of the red dots, indicating that the asteroid will miss the Earth in 2050. Future impacts beyond that date have not been ruled out."

Credit: The 2012 TC4 Observing Campaign

by Ernesto Guido

Close Approach of Asteroid 2016 RB1

The asteroid 2016 RB1 was discovered  (at ~ magnitude +19) on 2016, September 05 by Mt. Lemmon Survey (MPC code G96) with a 1.5-m reflector + 10K CCD. 

Asteroid 2016 RB1 has an estimated size of 7.3 m - 16 m (based on the object's absolute magnitude H=27.8) and it will have a close approach with Earth at about 0.1 LD (Lunar Distances = ~384,000 kilometers) or 0.0003 AU (1 AU = ~150 million  kilometers) on 2016, September 7 at 17:20UT and it will reach a peak magnitude of about +12.3. Radio astronomers will try to  observe it as 2016 RB1 could be a really strong radar target during its close approach.

I performed some follow-up measurements of this object on 2016, September 07.6, remotely from the Q62 iTelescope network (Siding Spring, Australia) through a 0.4-m f/3.5 reflector + CCD. Below you can see our image taken with the asteroid at about magnitude +13 and moving at ~ 503 "/min. At the moment of its close approach on Sep 07, around 17UT, 2016 RB1 will move at ~ 2716 "/min (or about  45.2 deg/hour). The asteroid is trailed in the image due to its fast speed. Click on the image below to see a bigger version. (North is up, East is to the left). 

by Ernesto Guido

Close Approach of Asteroid 2015 TB145

The asteroid 2015 TB145 was discovered  (at ~ magnitude +20) on 2015, October 10 by  Pan-STARRS I survey (MPC code F51) with a 1.8-m Ritchey-Chretien + CCD. 

Asteroid 2015 TB145 has an estimated size of 290 m - 650 m (based on the object's absolute magnitude H=19.8) and it will have a close approach with Earth at about 1.3 LD (Lunar Distances = ~384,000 kilometers) or 0.0033 AU (1 AU = ~150 million kilometers) on 2015, October 31 at 17:01UT. This asteroid will reach the peak magnitude about +10 between on October 31. Radio astronomers will try to  observe it as the radar signal-to-noise ratios will be very strong "so this should be one of the best radar targets of the year.  We hope to obtain images with a range resolution as high as 2 m/pixel using DSS-13 to transmit and Green Bank (and possibly Arecibo) to receive. The flyby presents a truly outstanding scientific opportunity to study the physical properties of this object."

Moreover 2015 TB145 is in an extremely eccentric (~0.86) and high inclination (~40 deg) orbit.  It has a Tisserand parameter of 2.937 hinting that it may be cometary in nature. If so, then this would be the first time that the Goldstone radar has imaged a comet from such a close distance. The encounter velocity is 35 km/s, which is unusually high.  

The graphic below depicts the orbit of asteroid 2015 TB145 (click on the image for a bigger version). 

Credit: (NASA/JPL - Caltech)

The graphic below depicts the passage of asteroid 2015 TB145 past Earth on October 31, 2015 (click on the image for a bigger version). 

Credit: P. Chodas (NASA/JPL - Caltech)

This flyby of 2015 TB145 will be the closest by any known space rock this large until asteroid (137108) 1999 AN10 (absolute magnitude H=17.9) flies past Earth in 2027 within one lunar distance. On April 2017, another asteroid "2014 JO25" (absolute magnitude H=18.1) will pass at about 4.8 LD from Earth. 

I performed some follow-up measurements of this object on 2015, October 26.5, remotely from the Q62 iTelescope network (Siding Spring, Australia) through a 0.50-m f/6.8 astrograph + CCD + focal reducer). Below you can see our image taken with the asteroid at about magnitude +16 and moving at ~ 0.78 "/min (full moon was only 48 degree away from the asteroid). At the moment of its close approach on Oct 31, around 17UT, 2015 TB145 will move at ~ 880 "/min (or about  14.7 deg/hour). Click on the image below to see a bigger version. (North is up, East is to the left).

The chart below shows the path of asteroid 2015 TB145 as it sweeps past Earth at 35 km per second. "During this 20-hour-long period the asteroid's magnitude varies from 10.1 to 12.2, and its proximity to Earth will create a parallax shift of ½° or more. So you won't be able to point your telescope based on this track; instead, you will need to consult another source (for example the MPC website) to generate positions specific to your location" (click on the image for a bigger version). 

UPDATE - November 02, 2015

The radar images from Arecibo indicate the object is spherical in shape and approximately 600 meters (2,000 feet) in diameter and completes a rotation about once every five hours.

Credits: NAIC-Arecibo/NSF

The animated GIF above was generated using radar data collected by the National Science Foundation's 305-meter (1,000-foot) Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico. The six radar images used in the animation were taken on Oct. 30, 2015, and the image resolution is 7.5 meters (25 feet) per pixel.

Radar images obtained at the Arecibo Observatory appear to rotate clockwise, which is noticeable by the movement of bright features. “The bright and dark features are indication of surface irregularities. For example, the central dark feature may be a large circular depression, possibly an impact crater”, commented Dr. James Richardson, USRA Scientist in the Planetary Radar Group. 

Scientists observing asteroid 2015 TB145 with NASA's Infrared Telescope Facility (IRTF) on Mauna Kea, Hawaii, have determined that the celestial object is more than likely a dead comet that has shed its volatiles after numerous passes around the sun. Indeed researchers now estimate that its surface reflects only about 6% of the sunlight that strikes it (most comets have a reflectivity in the range of 3% to 5%, but asteroids are usually considerably higher, around 15% to 20%).

UPDATE - November 03, 2015

Below the new radar animation of asteroid 2015 TB145 obtained by the radar team of Arecibo Observatory on Nov 1, 2015.

Credits: Arecibo Obs/NASA/NSF

by Ernesto Guido

Close Approach of Asteroid (357439) 2004 BL86

The asteroid (357439) 2004 BL86 was discovered  (at ~ magnitude +18.6) on 2004, January 30 by Linear Survey (MPC code 704) with a 1.0-m f/2.15 reflector + CCD.

Asteroid (357439) 2004 BL86 has an estimated size of 420 m - 940 m (based on the object's absolute magnitude H=19.0) and it will have a close approach with Earth at about 3.1 LD (Lunar Distances = ~384,000 kilometers) or 0.0080 AU (1 AU = ~150 million kilometers) on 2015, January 26 at 16:20UT. This asteroid will reach the peak magnitude about +9.0 between Jan 26 & 27. Astronomers at Goldstone will try to observe it "as the radar signal-to-noise ratios will be very strong and will provide an extraordinary opportunity to study this object". 

This flyby of 2004 BL86 will be the closest by any known space rock this large until asteroid (137108) 1999 AN10 (absolute magnitude H=17.9) flies past Earth in 2027 within one lunar distance. On April 2017, another asteroid "2014 JO25" (absolute magnitude H=18.1) will pass at about 4.8 LD from Earth.

We performed some follow-up measurements of this object on 2015, January 23.4, remotely from the Q62 iTelescope network (Siding Spring, Australia) through a 0.43-m f/6.8 astrograph + CCD). Below you can see our image taken with the asteroid at about magnitude +15 and moving at ~ 10.51 "/min. The asteroid is trailed in the image due to its fast speed. At the moment of its close approach on Jan 26, around 16:20UT, (357439) 2004 BL86 will move at ~ 162 "/min (or about  2.7 deg/hour). Click on the image below to see a bigger version. (North is up, East is to the left).

Click on the thumbnail below to see a short animation showing the movement of (357439) 2004 BL86 (two consecutive 120-second exposure). (North is up, East is to the left)

The graphic below depicts the passage of asteroid (357439) 2004 BL86 past Earth on January 26, 2015.  The view is nearly edge-on to the Earth's orbit; the Moon's nearly circular orbit is highly foreshortened from this viewpoint. The asteroid moves from the south to the north, from below the Earth's orbit to above. Times indicated on the graphic are Universal Time. Click on the image for a bigger version.

Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

When 2004 BL86 will reach the peak magnitude +9 on the evening between January 26-27, it should be visible for several hours in small telescopes if you know where to look. The image below shows its path in the sky in those days. When brightest, it will be in the constellation Cancer. A more detailed map is available here.

Credit: Sky & Telescope

UPDATE - January 26, 2015

Scientists working with NASA's 70-meter Deep Space Network antenna at Goldstone, California, have released the first radar images of asteroid (357439) 2004 BL86. The images show that this asteroid has its own small moon. The signature of the satellite was seen in lightcurve data reported earlier by J. Pollock (Appalachian State University, North Carolina) and  P. Pravec (Ondrejov Observatory, Czech Republic) and then confirmed by radar.

"The primary body is approximately 325 meters across and has a small moon approximately 70 meters across. In the near-Earth population, about 16 percent of asteroids that are about 200 meters or larger are a binary (the primary asteroid with a smaller asteroid moon orbiting it) or even triple systems (two moons). The resolution on the radar images is 4 meters per pixel."

Below you can see the animation made by using 20 radar images obtained at Goldstone and showing asteroid (357439) 2004 BL86 and its moon. Click on the animation to see a bigger version.

Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

by Ernesto Guido, Nick Howes & Martino Nicolini

Close Approach of Asteroid 2014 SC324

The asteroid 2014 SC324 was discovered (at ~ magnitude +21.4) on 2014, September 30.2 by Mt. Lemmon Survey (MPC code G96) with a 1.5-m reflector + CCD. 

2014 SC324 has an estimated size of 40 m - 90 m (based on the object's absolute magnitude H=24.1) and it will have a close approach with Earth at about 1.5 LD (Lunar Distances = ~384,000 kilometers) or 0.0038 AU (1 AU = ~150 million kilometers) at 1921 UT on 2014, October 24. This asteroid will reach the peak magnitude about +13.6 at close approach.

We performed some follow-up measurements of this object on 2014, October 24.3 remotely from the H06 iTelescope network (New Mexico, Mayhill) through a 0.25-m f/3.4 astrograph + CCD and a 0.1-m f/5.0 astrograph + CCD. Below you can see our image taken with the asteroid at about magnitude +13.6 and moving at ~ 135 "/min (the asteroid is trailed in the image due to its fast speed). At the moment of its close approach on Oct 24 at 1921 UT, 2014 SC324 will move at ~ 221 "/min. Click on the image below to see a bigger version. North is up, East is to the left. 

Below you can see a short animation showing the movement of 2014 SC324 (five consecutive 60-second exposure). Click on the thumbnail below to see the animation (North is up, East is to the left):

UPDATE - October 30, 2014

Below you can see the Goldstone Radar Images of asteroid 2014 SC324 obtained on October 25, 2014 at 11:46UT. Click on the image below to see a bigger version. While for more info click here

Credit: Goldstone/California Institute of Technology

by Ernesto Guido, Nick Howes & Martino Nicolini

Close Approach of Asteroid 2014 RC

The asteroid 2014 RC was discovered (at ~ magnitude +20.0) on 2014, September 01.2 by Catalina Sky Survey (MPC code 703) with a 0.68-m Schmidt + CCD (and independently detected the next night by the Pan-STARRS survey).

2014 RC has an estimated size of 12 m - 26 m (based on the object's absolute magnitude H=26.8) and it will have a close approach with Earth at about 0.1 LD (Lunar Distances = ~384,000 kilometers) or 0.0003 AU (1 AU = ~150 million kilometers) at 1801 UT on 2014, September 07. This asteroid will reach the peak magnitude about +11.5 on Sep 7 between 17UT and 18UT.

We performed some follow-up measurements of this object on 2014, September 05.3, remotely from the U69 iTelescope network (Auberry California, USA) through a 0.61-m f/6.5 astrograph + CCD). Below you can see our image taken with the asteroid at about magnitude +17.4 and moving at ~ 1.71 "/min. At the moment of its close approach on Sep 7, around 18UT, 2014 RC will move at ~ 3300 "/min. Click on the image below to see a bigger version. North is up, East is to the left.

The graphic below depicts the passage of asteroid 2014 RC past Earth on September 7, 2014. At time of closest approach, the space rock will be about one-tenth the distance from Earth to the moon. Times indicated on the graphic are Universal Time.

Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

UPDATE - September 07, 2014

Image of asteroid 2014 RC on Sep 07 at 17:30UT,  about 30 minutes before its close approach. The asteroid was at magnitude +11.2 and moving at 2971 "/min (the asteroid is trailed in the image due to its fast speed). Click on the image below to see a bigger version. North is up, East is to the left.

by Ernesto Guido, Nick Howes & Martino Nicolini

Close Approach of PHA Asteroid 2014 MF6

The asteroid 2014 MF6 was discovered (at magnitude ~17.0) on 2014, June 23.3 by Catalina Sky Survey (MPC code 703) with a 0.68-m Schmidt + CCD.

According to the preliminay orbit, 2014 MF6 is an Apollo type asteroid. This class of asteroids are defined by having semi-major axes greater than that of the Earth (> 1 AU) but perihelion distances less than the Earth's aphelion distance (q < 1.017 AU). It is also flagged as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid". PHA are asteroids larger than approximately 100m that might have threatening close approaches to the Earth (they can come closer to Earth than 0.05 AU).

2014 MF6 has an estimated size of 190 m - 420 m (based on the object's absolute magnitude H=20.7) and it will have a close approach with Earth at about 9.1 LD (Lunar Distances = ~384,000 kilometers) or 0.0233 AU (1 AU = ~150 million kilometers) at 1939 UT on 2014, July 09. This asteroid will reach the peak magnitude ~15.3 on the period from 06 to 09 July 2014.

We performed some follow-up measurements of this object on 2014, July 09.4, remotely from the Q62 iTelescope network (Siding Spring, AU) through a 0.50-m f/6.8 astrograph + CCD + focal reducer). Below you can see our image taken with the asteroid at magnitude ~15.3 and moving at ~ 40.43 "/min.  Click on the image below to see a bigger version. North is up, East is to the left (the asteroid is trailed in the image due to its fast speed).

Below you can see a short animation showing the movement of 2014 MF6 (three consecutive 60-second exposure). Click on the thumbnail below to see the animation (East is up, North is to the right):

by Ernesto Guido, Nick Howes & Martino Nicolini

Close Approach of Asteroid 2014 JR24

The asteroid 2014 JR24 was discovered (at magnitude ~17.2) on 2014, May 06.3 by Catalina Sky Survey (MPC code 703) with a 0.68-m Schmidt + CCD. 

2014 JR24 has an estimated size of 3.7 m - 8.2 m (based on the object's absolute magnitude H=29.3) and it had a close approach with Earth at about 0.3 LD (Lunar Distances = ~384,000 kilometers) or 0.0007 AU (1 AU = ~150 million kilometers) at 1045 UT on 2014, May 07. This asteroid reached the peak magnitude ~15.6 on May 07, 2014.

We performed some follow-up measurements of this object on 2014, May 07.3, remotely from the H06 iTelescope network (New Mexico) through a 0.43-m f/6.8 astrograph + CCD. Below you can see our image taken with the asteroid at magnitude ~15.7 and moving at ~466.77 "/min. At the moment of its close approach at 1045 UT, 2014 JR24 was moving at ~526 "/min. Click on the image below to see a bigger version. North is up, East is to the left (the asteroid is trailed in the image due to its fast speed).

Below you can see a short animation showing the movement of 2014 JR24 (two consecutive 60-second exposure). Click on the thumbnail for a bigger version:

by Ernesto Guido, Nick Howes & Martino Nicolini

Close Approach of Asteroid 2014 HO132

The asteroid 2014 HO132 was discovered (at magnitude ~19.6) on 2014, April 28.4 by F51 Pan-STARRS 1, Haleakala survey.

2014 HO132 has an estimated size of 19 m - 42 m (based on the object's absolute magnitude H=25.7) and it had a close approach with Earth at about 2.1 LD (Lunar Distances = ~384,000 kilometers) or 0.0055 AU (1 AU = ~150 million kilometers) at 0810 UT on 2014, May 05. This asteroid reached the peak magnitude ~15.6 on May 04, 2014.

We performed some follow-up measurements of this object on 2014, May 05.5, remotely from the Q62 iTelescope network (Siding Spring) through a 0.50-m f/6.8 astrograph + CCD + f/4.5 focal reducer.

Below you can see our image taken with the asteroid at magnitude ~16.4 and moving at ~135.47 "/min. At the moment of its close approach at 0810 UT, 2014 HO132 was moving at ~141 "/min. Click on the image below to see a bigger version. North is up, East is to the left (the asteroid is trailed in the image due to its fast speed).

Below you can see a short animation showing the movement of 2014 HO132 (three consecutive 90-second exposure). Click on the thumbnail for a bigger version:

UPDATE - May 08, 2014

Asteroid 2014 HO132 was observed on May 03, 2014 by radar at Goldstone. Below you can find the radar images, sums of fifteen consecutive runs at a resolution of 3.75 m x 0.11 Hz resolution (click on it for a bigger version).

Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/GSSR

by Ernesto Guido, Nick Howes & Martino Nicolini

Close Approach of Asteroid 2014 DX110

The asteroid 2014 DX110 was discovered (at magnitude ~20) on 2014, February 28 by F51 Pan-STARRS 1 , Haleakala survey.

2014 DX110 has an estimated size of 19 m - 43 m (based on the object's absolute magnitude H=25.7) and it will have a close approach with Earth at about 0.9 LD (Lunar Distances = ~384,000 kilometers) or 0.0023 AU (1 AU = ~150 million kilometers) at 2100 UT on 2014, March 05. This asteroid will reach the peak magnitude ~14.8 on March 05, 2014.

We performed some follow-up measurements of this object on 2014, March 05.6, remotely from the Q62 iTelescope network (Siding Spring) through a 0.32-m f/9.0 Ritchey-Chretien + CCD + f/6.1 focal reducer.

Below you can see our image taken with the asteroid at magnitude ~15.2 and moving at ~145.84 "/min. At the moment of its close approach in the next few hours, 2014 DX110 will move at ~509"/min. Click on the image below to see a bigger version. North is up, East is to the left (the asteroid is trailed in the image due to its fast speed).

According to a preliminary light-curve published on MPML mailing list by B. Warner, this asteroid is a fast rotator with a period of 0.1204 h (7.2 min) and amplitude 0.36 mag.  Click on the image below to see a bigger version.

Credit: Brian Warner

by Ernesto Guido, Nick Howes & Martino Nicolini

Close Approach of Asteroid 2006 DP14

The Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA) 2006 DP14 was discovered on 2006, February 23 by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Lincoln Near Earth Asteroid  Research (LINEAR) program. PHAs are space rocks larger than approximately 100m that can come closer to Earth than 0.05 AU. None of the known PHAs is on a collision course with our planet, although astronomers are finding new ones all the time.

2006 DP14 has an estimated size of 460 m - 1.0 km (based on the object's absolute magnitude H=18.8) and it had a close approach with Earth at about 6.2 LD (Lunar Distances = ~384,000 kilometers) or 0.0160 AU (1 AU = ~150 million kilometers) at 1905 UT on 2014, February 10. This asteroid reached the peak magnitude ~12.8 on February 11, 2014. Shortly before and after the closest approach, this asteroid will be far enough north for Goldstone to track, and it is expecting to be a strong imaging target. Goldstone tracks are scheduled on February 8, 12, and 13.

We performed some follow-up measurements of this object on 2014, February 11.6, remotely from the Q62 iTelescope network (Siding Spring) through a 0.32-m f/9.0 Ritchey-Chretien + CCD + f/6.1 focal reducer.

Below you can see our image taken with the asteroid at magnitude ~12.8 and moving at ~82.0 "/min. At the moment of the close approach 2006 DP14 was moving at ~142"/min. Click on the image below to see a bigger version. North is up, East is to the left (the asteroid is trailed in the image due to its fast speed).

Below you can see a short animation showing the movement of 2006 DP14 (two consecutive 120-second exposure). Click on the thumbnail for a bigger version:

UPDATE - February 22, 2014

Goldostone has been able to obtain radar images of asteroid 2006 DP14 on February 12, 2014. See image below (click on it for a bigger version).

Credit: NASA

According to this JPL/NASA press release: "Delay-Doppler radar imaging revealed that the asteroid is about 1,300 feet (400 meters) long, 660 feet (200 meters) wide, and shaped somewhat like a big peanut. The asteroid's period of rotation is about six hours. The asteroid is of a type known as a "contact binary" because it has two large lobes on either end that appear to be in contact. Previous radar data from Goldstone and the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico has shown that at least 10 percent of near-Earth asteroids larger than about 650 feet (200 meters) have contact binary shapes like that of 2006 DP14. The data were obtained over an interval of 2.5 hours as the asteroid completed about half a revolution. The resolution is about 60 feet (19 meters) per pixel."

by Ernesto Guido, Nick Howes & Martino Nicolini

Close Approach of Asteroid 2013 XY8

M.P.E.C. 2013-X44, issued on 2013, December 08, reports the discovery of the asteroid 2013 XY8 (discovery magnitude 17.7) by Catalina Sky Survey (MPC code 703 ) on images taken on December 07.1 with a 0.68-m Schmidt + CCD.

2013 XY8 has an estimated size of 31 m - 68 m (based on the object's absolute magnitude H=24.7) and it will have a close approach with Earth at about 2 LD (Lunar Distances = ~384,000 kilometers) or 0.0051 AU (1 AU = ~150 million kilometers) at 1117 UT on 2013, December 11. This asteroid will reach the peak magnitude ~14.4 between December 10 & 11.

We performed some follow-up measurements of this object on 2013, December 10.6, remotely from the Faulkes Telescope South (MPC code E10), through a 2.0-m f/10.0 Ritchey-Chretien + CCD (Faulkes Telescope is operated by Las Cumbres Observatory Global Telescope Network).

Below you can see our image taken with the asteroid at magnitude ~15 and moving at ~78.0 "/min. At the moment of the close approach 2013 XY8 will move at ~151"/min. Click on the image below to see a bigger version. North is up, East is to the left (the asteroid is trailed in the image due to its fast speed).

Below you can see a short animation showing the movement of 2013 XY8 (four consecutive 30-second exposure). Click on the thumbnail for a bigger version:
 

by Ernesto Guido, Nick Howes & Martino Nicolini