WASHINGTON — Space experts are watching an aircraft-carrier-sized asteroid called 2005 YU55. The asteroid will zip by the earth at one of the closest distances ever, although experts say there is no danger to our planet. The asteroid will be nearly 202,000 miles away from the earth – or about 85 percent of the distance from earth to the moon – this afternoon at about 5:30. Spaceweather.com reported that other large asteroids have whizzed by at close distances but that this but is the first time astronomers have known about the fly-by in advance. Spaceweather said astronomers are giddy because the asteroid is so close it presents an exceptionally strong target for the radars that are bouncing off of it and giving details of its shape, texture and orbit. Spaceweather said experienced amateur astronomers with mid-sized backyard telescopes should be able to photograph 2005 YU55 as it blasts through the constellations Aquila and Pegasus, glowing like an 11th magnitude star.
Tuesday, Nov. 8, 11 a.m.
