Asteroid flying by Earth will be seen in India

The asteroid 2012 DA14, which will fly at a distance of 27,700 km above the surface of Earth on February 15, will be visible across Asia including India, but only with the help of binoculars and telescopes.

The asteroid 2012 DA14, which will fly at a distance of 27,700 km above the surface of Earth on February 15, will be visible across Asia including India, but only with the help of binoculars and telescopes.

HT Image

According to sources, the asteroid will be within range for small telescopes and solidly mounted binoculars, used by experienced observers who have access to appropriate star charts.

N Sri Raghunandan Kumar, general secretary Planetary Society of India, told HT that the asteroid will appear as a slow moving dot in the background of various pattern of stars.

For India, he said the best time to view the asteroid is likely to be between 12 midnight and 3 am on February 16.