Big Asteroid Flyby!

[CrossCuT]

I wish I had a telescope to watch this bad boy! Very cool stuff!

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssYnC90U0mM

 

Asteroids have been a hot topic since February 15th  when one small asteroid exploded over Russia and another larger one, 2012 DA14, made a record setting close approach to Earth on the same day. This time the interloper is 1998 QE2, a potentially hazardous asteroid 2.7 km in diameter.  Astronomers are preparing to study the space rock as it harmlessly passes by on May 31st.

"This is a big asteroid that's going to be one of the best radar imaging targets of the year," says Lance Benner of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2013/30may_asteroidflyby/