Minor Planet Center shows 2012 DA14's position RA and Dec for the 15th/16th local time: Sunset 13 25 +77 2300 16 41 +85 Midnight 17 24 +85 Dawn 19 44 +86 No star chart handy but I think that's east of the dipper. On 23 Jan 2013, at 11:11, Seth Jarvis wrote:
Patrick,
When I plug the orbital elements (per the IAU Minor Planet Center) into Starry Night it shows that on the night of Feb 15 from Salt Lake City 2012 DA14 will be moving through the bowl of the Big Dipper around 11PM local (0600 UT).
Does that jibe with your ephemeris?
Thanks,
Seth
-----Original Message----- From: utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Patrick Wiggins Sent: Wednesday, January 23, 2013 12:10 AM To: utah astronomy listserve utah astronomy Subject: [Utah-astronomy] 2012 DA14 ephemerides
I've posted a PDF showing ephemerides for minor planet 2012 DA14 around the time that it may be most visible from here in Utah (specifically for my observatory but they should be good for all of this area):
http://users.wirelessbeehive.com/~paw/temp/2012DA14EPHEMS.JPG
Unfortunately it will reach closest approach (~40,000 km) around noon our time. The data show it will be about mag +8ish then and ripping across the sky at about 2,300 arc seconds per minute. Zoom!
About the time of astronomical dark here in Utah it will be about a third of the way up the sky, about 180,000 km out, dimmed to magnitude +12ish and slowed to "only" abut 150"/min (compare that to Ceres which is currently plodding along at about 0.25"/min).
So there's still hope some locals with large scopes may be able to see it visually. And I'm guessing I wont be the only one trying to catch some of its reflected photons.
patrick