In the first week of June, the potentially dangerous asteroid (424482) 2008 DG5 will pass near the planet Earth. A passage that will take place in total safety and that will offer a space show for fans: the “show” will also be visible with the help of small telescopes.
The 2008 DG5 asteroid arrives
The slightest distance will be touched at 01:59 on 6 June, when it will pass on to about 3.5 million kilometers from the earth, or 9 times the average distance of the moon (a value of complete safety), traveling at a relative speed compared to the land of about 6 km/s. The peak of brightness, on the other hand, will occur on June 1, with the object that will reach an apparent magnitude of 13.7, therefore within the photographic reach of modest diameter telescopes. This is thanks to the important dimensions of (424482) 2008 DG5, estimated between 320 and 700 meters: similar steps take place on average once a year. Remember called “potentially dangerous object” any comet or asteroid having a diameter of about 140 meters greater and which moves on an orbit capable of approaching within 7.5 million km from that of the earth. Which, evidently, does not necessarily imply an impact, but suggests an eye for such a celestial body.
“The most favorable observational window is placed between the end of May and the early June – explains the astrophysicist Gianluca Masi -, of course including the date of the Flyby. In those days, (424482) 2008 DG5 will be brighter than magnitude 14 and will be comfortably observable from Italy around midnight, while it will cross the constellations of Virgo, Bootes, Canes Venatics, Ursa Major and Draco. It is possible to photograph the rapid apparent movement between the stars. “
How and when to see it
The map indicates the position of (424482) 2008 DG5 between 31 May and 10 June, at midnight: in the early hours of June 4, the asteroid will pass perspectively next to the globular ambient NGC 5466, while on day 7, before dawn, it will move in the sky area where the famous Messier 101 galaxy is located: two excellent opportunities for astrophotographers.
On June 6, starting at 00:00, the Virtual Telescope Project will show the potentially dangerous asteroid in live streaming (424482) 2008 DG5, thanks to its instruments installed in Manciano (Grosseto), under the most exempt from light from light pollution of peninsular Italy. The event, with the comment by Gianluca Masi, astrophysicist and research doctor in astronomy, founder and scientific manager of Virtual Telescope Project, will be totally free and available at the following link.