Join Paul Cox and Dr Mike Shaw for a members-only Star Party to watch Near-Earth Asteroid 2002 NN4 as it makes its "close-ish" pass by Earth. The Star Party Live starts at 10:30 PM EDT on Friday night (that's 02:30UTC Saturday morning).
We'll discuss all-things asteroid while we watch this 570-meter diameter space rock as it whizzes by at 40,126kph (24,933mph) some 5,093,373 km (3,164,875 miles) from Earth using Slooh's Canary Islands telescopes!
Members can interact directly with Paul and Mike by joining the Zoom Webinar as we watch this particular space rock hurtle past.
HOW TO PARTICIPATE
It's easy for members to participate in Slooh's Star Parties to join the fun and interact together and with our hosts in Slooh's livestreams! (everyone can watch on the Show's page of course). Use the details below to join the Zoom event.
Zoom Event Details:
Topic: Star Party Live! Near-Earth Asteroid 2002 NN4
Zoom Webinar URL:
Go to the Show page for Zoom URL.
ABOUT NEA 2002 NN4
"163348 (2002 NN4)" is an Aten class Near-Earth Asteroid. Because of its size, and its potential to get close to Earth, it is also designated a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid.
Quite a bit of information has been published incorrectly about the asteroid's size, speed, and proximity to Earth (mostly copied from the same incorrect source). Here's some information taken directly from the JPL website:
Distance of this close approach: 5,093,373 km (3,164,875 miles).
Moment of close approach: 2020-06-06T03:20UTC
Velocity: 11 km/s (40,126 kph, 24,933 mph).
Size: 250 - 570-meters (820 - 1070 feet).
Last observations submitted to the MPC: 2016-08-28
It's been reported as being "very small" or "small" - but that isn't strictly true. At up to 570-meters in diameter, it's larger than around 90% of the Near-Earth Asteroid population.
How ever big or small, how ever close or far, it will still be pretty cool to watch this lump of primordial space rock through Slooh's telescopes during our members' star party - so come join us to watch it together!
