Re: (SNES) Earth is "Grazed" by an asteroid!

[Timetrav2@webtv.net (Andy and Barry)]

Doug

Thanks for the very interesting report.  I wasn't able to get out last
night due to an infected toe that I have been soaking vigorously. The
thought did cross my mind though and I did go out to inspect the sky.
It was beautiful out that is for sure, but was it cold/damp! My
neighborhood is increasingly getting brighter with all the Christmas
decorations hanging from trees and bushes making observing more
difficult as the holiday season gets closer, and of course my next door
neighbor left his front light on and wasn't home. Soaking the toe was by
far the easiest thing to do.

Stars in your eyes,
Barry

http://community.webtv.net/Timetrav2/TIMETRAVELERS
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From: Albireo54@aol.com
Message-ID: <f4.13a95488.294d87d8@aol.com>
Date: Sun, 16 Dec 2001 00:15:04 EST
Subject: (SNES) Earth is "Grazed" by an asteroid!
To: dbartolini@lucent.com, stevebrandt@mediaone.net,
  colemans@riconnect.com, DoyleSails@aol.com, d.etris@att.net,
  pilotstar@mindspring.com, dedalus@alum.mit.edu, arthurg@outdrs.net,
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Hi Everyone, 

Despite the many years I've been at this hobby, tonight I enjoyed two 
"firsts". My plan as I stepped outside at 5:30 PM was to track down the Earth 
grazing asteroid 1998 WT24 - which is racing by us this weekend, just over 1 
million miles away. When I first turned to the area of Perseus where the 
asteroid was predicted to be, I spotted a fairly bright satellite heading 
southward. Not unusual at all. But as I followed it for a few moments in 
binoculars I noticed another satellite of similar brightness headed right for 
it, moving north. Would I witness a "collision"? Indeed I would! The 
southbound satellite (called WIRE) passed directly in front of the northbound 
SeaSat 1 - which fortunately orbits about 160 miles higher than WIRE! But the 
occultation was perfect, as the two merged precisely for a fraction of a 
second! I later confirmed all the particulars using Heavens-Above. I have 
witnessed scores of near misses between satellites over the years, but never 
a "true" collision! Very cool.  :o)

Then it was on to the asteroid, which was predicted to be moving at one 
degree PER HOUR! Because of this a good ephemeris is essential for locating 
the asteroid, and you can find one by consulting: 

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2001/ast14dec_1.htm

Identification tonight was a snap, as the asteroid, about 2/3 mile in 
diameter, happened to be moving past a group of 8th and 9th magnitude stars 
about 2 degrees east of 52 Persei. Just in the time it took me to switch 
eyepieces the motion of WT24 was obvious, and as I watched it, even at low 
power (64X), its motion was easy to detect visually. It was very much like 
watching a faint satellite moving at a small fraction of its normal speed. 
Over a 7 minute period it tracked a full 8 arc minutes - more than 10 times 
the apparent diameter of Jupiter! I cannot tell you just how unique this 
sighting was - I've seen NOTHING like it in over 40 years of observing, and 
may never again, as these Earth grazers are extremely rare - especially those 
bright enough to be seen in amateur scopes. I estimated WT24's magnitude at 
9.2, so under dark skies it should be visible in large binoculars. Here in 
Webster I could not see it in my 10 x 50s, which were reaching only about 
magnitude 8.5 tonight in that part of the sky.  

If you'd like to "visit" asteroid WT24 yourself, you'd better plan on doing 
so tomorrow evening, when it is still expected to be clear. By 6 PM tomorrow 
night it will have skimmed a full 24+ degrees into Andromeda, about 3/4 of a 
degree SSW of the bright galaxy NGC 891.  

Note: the nearest base point on Earth for the ephemeris was Merrimack, NH. I 
plotted the asteroid about 5 arc minutes farther north than that ephemeris 
indicated - as you would expect for an object so close to Earth. Tomorrow's 
error should be similar.

After all this excitement I still had time for some general observing, and 
had a fine look at Saturn in my C8 at 303X. Tack sharp and very detailed, 
with the crepe ring easily seen, along with five moons. The Cassini division 
was easy all the way around the ring system, and the globe of Saturn itself 
showed more detail than I've seen in years. Jupiter was also splendid, with 
Europa transiting the planet, its small black shadow clearly seen (although 
the moon itself was not).

I enjoyed many of my old winter favorites: M35 and NGC 2158, the Eskimo, M37, 
M42, and a number of others. And lastly I checked in on an old friend, the 
superbly red star R Leporis (Hind's Crimson Star). This is a Mira type long 
period variable which typically ranges from about the mid 6 to the low 10 
magnitude range over a 14 month period. But it is its deep red color that 
really sets this star apart, and this is even more pronounced when the star 
is not near maximum - as tonight. I estimated it at about 9.7.  It is 
brightening to an expected maximum in late February, and should soon be 
visible in binoculars. Keep an eye on it this winter! The only redder star I 
can recall observing is the less well known T Lyra. 

I hope that many of you managed some time outdoors tonight and that you'll 
look for asteroid 1998 WT24 tomorrow - you won't regret it, I promise you!

Regards,
Doug Stewart
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