The ONU Astronomy Club invites Icon viewers to a special event from 8 to 10 p.m., Monday, Jan. 26, according to Jason Pinkney.
“Normally we meet on Fridays, but on this day, a small asteroid (0.3 miles across) will fly safely past the Earth close enough to be seen through our telescopes. The closest approach is about three times the distance to the Moon,” he said.
Asteroid 2004 BL86 will pass through the constellation Cancer during the evening, and its motion should be detectable to the eye (unlike most asteroids).
There’s more. Comet Lovejoy will still be an easy target to see through the telescopes and binoculars. Person who attend will see glimpses of this comet, Jupiter, the "close-call" asteroid, and the Moon as well.
This event is free to the public but it is contingent on mostly clear skies, temperatures above 15 F, and no snow build-up.
Check the public events web page
(https://www2.onu.edu/~j-pinkney/astro/publicevents.html) for cancellations on Monday after 2 p.m.
