Asteroid has close encounter with earth

[knowledge_of_self]

Hi group:

I was just watching some local news and heard a very brief announcement that an asteroid is having a "close encounter with earth," and that it can be seen by any telescope passing by the moon.

Here is an article I found on the same news station web-site.

http://www.canada.com/globaltv/quebec/news/story.html?id=b3327d63-858e-4ec6-8d74-05136f40ef83&k=61772

Asteroid has close encounter with earth

Associated Press
Sunday, July 02, 2006


LOS ANGELES -- An asteroid is about to have a close encounter -- at least by space standards -- with the earth.

Shortly after midnight Eastern, astronomers say the space rock (known as 2004 X-P 14) will zoom by about 430,000-kilometres from the earth.

That's about the distance to the moon.

The asteroid is thought to be around 800-metres in diameter.

Astronomers say that with a good telescope, you should be able to see it as a small dot streaking across the sky.

Scientists plan to bounce radar signals off the asteroid to try to determine its shape and future course.

I love it when I hear news like this on TV. :)