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Gingin Observatory Spots Near-Earth Asteroid at Closest Approach

Feb. 15, 2013
This frame from a movie shows the asteroid 2012 DA14 flying safely by Earth, as seen by the Gingin Observatory in Australia around the time of its closest approach, 11:24:42 a.m. PST (2:24:42 p. The animation is available in the Planetary Photojournal.

animation for PIA16736
Click on the image for the animation

This movie shows the asteroid 2012 DA14 flying safely by Earth, as seen by the Gingin Observatory in Australia around the time of its closest approach, 11:24:42 a.m. PST (2:24:42 p.m. EST, or 19:24:24 UTC), Feb. 15, 2013.

At that time, the asteroid was about 17,150 miles (27,600 kilometers) above Earth's surface.

The asteroid appears streaked because the telescope was focused on the stars while the asteroid passed through the field of view.

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