Watch asteroid 2023 BU pass close by Earth today in this free webcast - Space.com

A recently discovered asteroid volition travel precise adjacent to Earth this week. 

Asteroid 2023 BU measures betwixt 12 and 28 feet wide (3.8 to 8.5 meters), and was conscionable discovered connected Saturday (Jan. 21) by astronomer Gennadiy Borisov astatine the MARGO Observatory successful Crimea. When it passes by Earth astatine its closest connected Thursday (Jan. 26) astatine 4:17 p.m. EST (2117 GMT), the abstraction stone volition beryllium wrong little than 3% of the mean Earth-moon region astatine an altitude of conscionable 2,178 miles (3,506 kilometers) supra Earth's surface. 

For comparison, astir geostationary satellites orbit astatine an cognition of astir 22,200 miles (35,800 km). 

Most asteroids aren't agleam capable to beryllium seen without a almighty telescope; luckily, you tin ticker asteroid 2023 BU marque its adjacent brushwood with our satellite acknowledgment to the Virtual Telescope Project. Astronomer Gianluca Masi volition beryllium hosting a escaped livestream of the asteroid's walk connected the project's website (opens successful caller tab) oregon YouTube channel (opens successful caller tab) connected Thursday (Jan. 26) starting at 2:45 p.m. EST (1945 GMT) aft a abbreviated hold owed to clouds astatine the project's Ceccano, Italy observing site.

Related: Asteroids: Fun facts and accusation astir these abstraction rocks

The asteroid is presently successful the Ursa Major constellation. Due to its tiny size, asteroid 2023 BU is reasonably dim astatine magnitude 19.15, but it mightiness beryllium disposable done a almighty scope operated by a seasoned skywatcher. 

Luckily for those of america who aren't seasoned asteroid chasers, the Virtual Telescope Project volition watercourse the full thing. "Asteroid 2023 BU volition person an highly close, but safe, brushwood with us, coming [within] little than 10,000 km from the Earth's center, astir 25% of the geostationary satellites' distance," writes Masi connected the project's website (opens successful caller tab).

Asteroid 2023 BU is known arsenic an Apollo-type asteroid, which means its orbit crosses that of Earth but spends astir of its clip good extracurricular the way of our planet, according to the Center for Near Earth Object Studies (opens successful caller tab), which is based astatine NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory successful Southern California. 2023 BU orbits the prima each 425 days and volition not walk adjacent to our satellite again until Dec. 6, 2036.

While asteroid 2023 BU volition walk highly adjacent to Earth, it is not categorized arsenic perchance hazardous. That's due to the fact that its tiny size means it would apt interruption up and incinerate successful Earth's atmosphere. 

Hoping to drawback a glimpse of asteroid 2023 BU? Our guides connected the best telescopes and best binoculars might assistance you get started connected the way to close optics. You tin besides cheque retired our guides on the best cameras for astrophotography and best lenses for astrophotography to get started.

Editor's Note: If you negociate to drawback a photograph of asteroid 2023 BU and would similar to stock it with Space.com’s readers, nonstop your photo(s), comments, and your sanction and determination to spacephotos@space.com.

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