Planetary Defense
Missions
Find up-to-the-minute visibilities and deeplinks for Planetary Defense targets on the Moving Target Ephemeris page and the Scientific Events Prediction page
173561 (2000 YV137)
173561 (2000 YV137) is a 520m diameter near-Earth asteroid that had a close approach on August 9th where it was ~13 lunar distances from Earth. As it passes by it’s expected to reach a peak brightness of ~13th magnitude. It will be visible until August 17th.
2025 AL2
2025 AL2 was discovered on January 5th of last year. Not much is known about this asteroid, but it’s estimated to be between 70 and 160 meters in diameter. On August 16th it’s going to get ~2 lunar distances from Earth as it continues on its orbit. It will be faint, but visible starting on August 13th and remain visible through August 17th.
523609 (2005 PJ2)
523609 (2005 PJ2) is a near-Earth asteroid that is going to come within 18.5 lunar distances from Earth on August 27th. It has a diameter estimated to be between 300 and 800 meters and a rotation period of only 1 hour and 25 minutes (that’s fast!). Since it will still be relatively far away, 2005 PJ2 isn’t going to get very bright but should be visible starting on August 20th and remain just bright enough to see through August 27th.
2017 BP31
2017 BP31 is a 300-700 diameter asteroid that will be coming within 11.5 lunar distances of the Earth on August 28th and it isn’t expected to return until 2054. It’s peak magnitude is expected to reach a respectable 14.5. It should be visible starting on August 27th and remain bright enough to see until September 8th.
221455 (2006 BC10)
221455 (2006 BC10) is a near-Earth asteroid that will come within 10 lunar distances of Earth on August 28th. It is expected to be visible starting on August 28th and will remain visible through September 8th (so pair observations of this with 2017 BC31!). During that time it’s expected to reach a peak magnitude of 13.8.
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