Asteroid 2017 VR12 will sweep close tonight (earthsky.org)
By Eddie Irizarry and Deborah Byrd in Space | March 6, 2018
2017 VR12 will pass 3.76 times the moon’s distance during the night of March 6-7. Here are some images and video of the asteroid, plus … how to watch online.
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Astronomers will study 2017 VR12 using radar, which will show scientists the shape and rotation of the space rock. NASA’s Goldstone Radar in California will beam signals at the asteroid, and record those that bounce off it, between March 5 and 7.
Meanwhile, backyard astronomers with 8-inch and bigger telescopes (the number indicates the diameter of the telescope’s primary mirror) have a good opportunity to see an asteroid, if their instruments are pointed at the correct location at the correct time.
Using optical aid, observers in eastern North America can try to spot the asteroid on March 6 at about 11 p.m. EST (04:00 UTC March 7). The asteroid will be in front of the constellation Virgo, which will be rising over the eastern horizon around that time. That area of the sky will be visible from Los Angeles, California, and the rest of western North America after about 9:30 p.m. PST.
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more: http://earthsky.org/space/asteroid-2017-vr12-closest-march-6-7-2018
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