EarthSky News - Apr 18 - Large Asteroid Coming Close

April 18 Large Asteroid Coming Close by:

Large asteroid coming close! Closer than any asteroid this large since 2004. It won't be visible to the eye, but, beginning Wednesday morning, astronomers with large and small telescopes will be watching. Charts here. Tonight … Last quarter moon rises around midnight Or spot it around sunrise, high in the sky. Click in to learn why a last quarter moon is fainter than a first quarter moon. Think in 3D with the last quarter moon Use tonight's moon to imagine Earth's motion through space. Who needs dark energy? Dark energy is thought to be the driver for the expansion of the universe. But do we need dark energy to have an expanding universe?  Help EarthSky keep going We're at 56% of our goal in our annual fund-raiser and need your help to keep going. Please donate now. Prefer PayPal or to send a check? Go here. All you need to know: Lyrid meteors This shower is coming up this week, and especially this weekend. Saturday morning, April 22, is the likely peak. Try April 21 and 23 as well. The moon is out of the way!

EarthSky Lunar Calendars are on sale 50% OFF A unique and beautiful poster-sized calendar. Keep up with all phases of the moon every night of the year. Only about 100 left in stock, get them while you can!

Large asteroid coming close Large asteroid 2014 JO25 has been located in the direction of the sun. But - during the first hours of April 19 - the space rock will come into view for small telescopes as it crosses the constellation Draco. This is the view around 3:40 a.m. on Wednesday morning. Click here for more charts. Illustration by Eddie Irizarry using Stellarium.

Large asteroid coming close Asteroid 2014 JO25 will be moving fast! This chart shows Wednesday night - the night of April 19 - at around 9:30 p.m. Central Time. The field of view here is about 3 times the moon's diameter. Click here for more charts. Illustration by Eddie Irizarry using Stellarium. Submit your photo to EarthSky here!

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