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[Centaur]

NEO asteroid 4179 Toutatis will pass Earth by 0.05 AU on 2012 DEC 12. The 4.5x2.4x1.9 km object is expected to peak at magnitude +10.5 on DEC 16.

I’ve created an equatorial chart, overhead diagram and ephemeris for the asteroid. They can be seen at: www.CurtRenz.com/asteroids

Photos and descriptions of Toutatis would be welcome additions to this thread

[Paulie pchris00]

I saw this in last month's Sky & Telescope, and have been looking for to it. I've never seen a near Earth asteroid. We've got a few day window to catch it, which helps the odds that the weather will cooperate. I doubt I'll be able to get any images of it, but I've been getting some experience in the Hunter Astrophoto Lab at the observatory complex, so maybe I can give it a shot. In an effort to have more CAS members utilize the HAL telescope, it's been set up for visual observing. Now that I've learned the telescope, maybe I'll figure out how to set it up for AP again, and how to use the CCD. It would be cool to get several shots as 4179 Toutatis whizzes by.

[Paulie pchris00]

I just sent out invitations for a private observing session, hoping to catch this NEO next week.

Anybody who is interested and would like to attend can PM me, and I will reply with the details.

[Paulie pchris00]

Forecast looks good for tonight, so this session is a solid "go."

[Centaur]

Dec 12, 2012 7:49:48 GMT -6 Paulie pchris00 said:

Forecast looks good for tonight, so this session is a solid "go."

I wish you well, Paulie. Closest approach was very early this morning at 00:40 CST. Greatest brilliance at magnitude +10.5 is expected on December 16th.