sidewalk astro & more!

There will probably be a few telescopes in Monrovia Saturday night (not Mojo and mine, we are on travel), and for sure a few other telescopes, including ours next weekend, weather permitting. The moon and Jupiter will be fabulous both weekends. No on to the email of many links: 2013 - monthly highlights - lots to look forward to this year!! http://jane.whiteoaks.com/2013/01/07/whats-up-in-2013-at-a-glance/ Asteroid flyby - explanatory video, some charts, and frequently asked questions: http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/scitech/display.cfm?ST_ID=2523 A few of the most asked FAQs: *Q: What is asteroid DA14* A: Asteroid 2012 DA14 is a small near-Earth object - approximately 150 feet (45 meters) in diameter. On Feb. 15, 2013, the asteroid will pass by our planet at a remarkably close distance, but the asteroid's path is understood well enough that there is no chance of a collision with the Earth. *Q: What date and what time will the asteroid be closest to Earth?* A: Asteroid 2012 DA14 will be closest to Earth on Feb. 15 at approximately 19:24 UTC (2:24 p.m. EST/11:24 a.m. PST). This time may change by a minute or two as the asteroid is tracked on its approach and predictions are refined. At the time of closest approach, the asteroid will be over the eastern Indian Ocean, off Sumatra -- approx. latitude: -6 deg South. / longitude: 97.5 deg East. These near earth asteroids are not very easy to spot in telescopes. This one will be extremely faint (as faint as Pluto at Magnitude 13 when in our night sky, moving swiftly past earth, about 10pm tomorrow night. Here is my tale of near earth asteroid watching - one in 2002,one in 2011 http://jane.whiteoaks.com/2011/11/10/watching-asteroids-fly-by/ Breaking news at 10:30 pm: I'll report more tomorrow when I see news and videos that have been verified, but seems a bolide exploded over Russia - Urals-city of Chelyabinsk -- Jane Houston Jones Monrovia, CA What's Up Podcast for Feb:Asteroid flyby, comet preview On Youtube: http://youtu.be/uEqt0yE6EG0 Twitter: http://twitter.com/jhjones /CassiniSaturn /otastro My Blog: http://jane.whiteoaks.com/ Yosemite Video http://www.youtube.com/user/yosemitenationalpark?feature=watch