Posted on 03/15/2014 8:40:35 PM PDT by BenLurkin
The Rhode Island-sized space rock will extinguish the light from the star Regulus just after 2 a.m. Thursday for as long as 14 seconds. This blockage-by-space rock will be the most visible such event in North America, an unprecedented marvel that those with no astronomical knowledge can observe.
...
The star of the show is Regulus in the constellation Leo, which will be in the western part of the sky in the wee hours. Regulus is what's known as a first-magnitude star...
The spoiler that will temporarily hide Regulus' light is a 45-mile-wide rock named Erigone, which is as dark as fresh asphalt, orbits the sun between Mars and Jupiter ...
Observers should see the star wink out, then reappear.
(Excerpt) Read more at triblive.com ...
Makes me wish I could stay awake.
Me too.
“Space rock to blot out light from prominent star”
Made me think of Barack Obama and Justin Beiber.
Here’s another article with a map, which can be clicked for an interactive (Google Maps) version:
Not near the path? You're wanted too!
People anywhere from the Carolinas to Nova Scotia to Winnipeg are also encouraged to watch Regulus during the critical minutes and report whether or not it vanishes, and when. The reason? Erigone might have a satellite asteroid accompanying it! Some asteroids do.
(Specifics follow. That path itself is mostly around New York into Ontario.)
“Space rock”
When did they stop calling them “asteroids?”
Too many syllables.
Hoping for clear weather.
Then, can we start calling Jupiter "Big Guy?"
Isn’t something 45 miles wide a bit large to call a “Rock”?
Perhaps they should call it a Space Mountain? Or is that name already taken?
If Regulus does not reappear, we are in trouble ...
Have to make that into a rap jingle to help the kids remember:
He the Big Guy
With the Red Eye
Up in the Sky
So tell me why
etc.
“When did they stop calling them ‘asteroids?’”
I’m still trying to figure out why snow flurries are now called “snow showers.”
It’s incredible that they can predict this with such accuracy. Also, with just good synchronized clocks and stopwatches, people can participate in real science that is used to determine the exact size and profile of an asteroid. The way this works is that people with exact locations on a map along the path of the occultation time precisely when the star disappears and reappears. Then, that data is plotted, and the shape of and size of the asteroid can be determined. This has been successfully done before.
...or why they don't use "wind chill factor" in the summer time........
Makes me wish I could go to sleep!
and on Thursday night (those watching) will know for certain they were right or wrong. That is one big rock out there (iirc) 45 miles wide. Whew .... Glad we are sidestepping that one.
May you rest comfortably Gal, to wake when you desire.
Because "occultation by an asteroid" is too HAAARD ...
(Or do we need a celestial colonoscopy to become 'Regulus' again ??)
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