The 3 July Flyby of Apollo Asteroid 2004 XP14

The Association of Lunar & Planetary Observers (ALPO) has an informative statement about the 3 July flyby of Apollo Asteroid 2004 XP14. Read a news story about this event on space.com.

Around 0444 UTC on 3 July, XP14 will reach it's closest point to Earth during the current flyby. The approximately 600-meter (2,000-feet) diameter asteroid will be only 432,709 km (268,873 miles) from Earth, which is just outside the moon's orbit.

According to the detailed ALPO discussion about this flyby, observers with telescopes having a diameter of at least 15 cm (6 inches) should be able to see the asteroid as it rockets across their field of view at some 8.3 degrees per hour. The sun and moon subtend about 0.5 degree, so the asteroid will be moving the apparent diameter of the moon in about four minutes.

The Jet Propulsion Laboratory has issued a statement explaining, "Due to the proximity of its orbit to Earth and its diameter, 2004 XP14 has been classified as a 'Potentially Hazardous Asteroid' by the Minor Planet Center."

More information about 2004 XP14 and other near-Earth asteroids can be found by searching the web.

Readers who successfully photograph 2004 XP14 are encouraged to send reports to The Citizen Scientist. Please include full details and your name and send your report here.

Forrest M. Mims III