Near-Earth Asteroid 2014 UF56 is approaching: an image (26 Oct. 2014)
While waiting for the near-Earth asteroid 2014 UF56 and its very close encounter later today, we imaged this small, ~14 meters rock 24 hours, while it was already within one million kilometers.
Above is a single 180-seconds exposure, remotely collected with the PlaneWave 17″+Paramount ME+SBIG STL-6303E robotic unit part of the Virtual Telescope Project. The telescope tracked at the fast apparent rate of the asteroid, 30″/minute, so the object looks like a sharp dot of light, while stars are leaving long trails.
The Virtual Telescope will show asteroid 2014 UF56 live on 27 Oct. 2014, at 19:00 UT on its webTV here!
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(you can adjust the amount later)
how many kinds of telescopes are there….for instance I know refractor and reflector, but what is a casseigrain, or I believe there may be 3 or 4 other types? Can a descent telescope be purchased for less than $200us and from where or whom? Thank you Ken.My Google sky just isn’t enough anymore after viewing your site…..
Hi Ken, you can take a small scope with that amount and have lot of fun: the sky is always generous with those looking up. I would suggest to contact a local group of amateur astronomers in your area and I’m sure it will be a good thing.