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Ceres and Vesta Converge in the Sky on July 5: How to See It
universetoday.com ^ | June 26, 2014 | Bob King on

Posted on 06/26/2014 7:28:57 PM PDT by BenLurkin

In April, we reported that Ceres and Vesta, the largest and brightest asteroids respectively, were speeding through Virgo in tandem. Since then both have faded, but the best is yet to come. Converging closer by the day, on July 5, the two will make rare close pass of each other when they’ll be separated by just 10 minutes of arc or the thickness of a fat crescent moon.

...

Both asteroids are still within range of ordinary 35mm and larger binoculars; Vesta is easy at magnitude +7 while Ceres still manages a respectable +8.3. From an outer suburban or rural site, you can watch them draw together in the coming two weeks as if on a collision course. They won’t crash anytime soon. We merely see the two bodies along the same line of sight. Vesta’s closer to Earth at 164 million miles (264 million km) and moves more quickly across the sky compared to Ceres, which orbits 51 million miles (82 million km) farther out.

(Excerpt) Read more at universetoday.com ...


TOPICS: Astronomy
KEYWORDS: asteroids; astronomy; ceres; vesta

Vesta (left) and Ceres. Vesta was photographed up close by the Dawn spacecraft from July 2011-Sept. 2012, while the best views we have to date of Ceres come from the Hubble Space Telescope. The bright white spot is still a mystery. NASA will plunk Dawn into orbit around Ceres next February. Credit: NASA


Ceres and Vesta lie near an easy naked eye star, Zeta Virginis, which forms an isosceles triangle right now with Mars and Spica. The map shows the sky around 10 p.m. local time tonight facing southwest. Stellarium

1 posted on 06/26/2014 7:28:57 PM PDT by BenLurkin
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To: BenLurkin

Looking forward to getting a close up look at Ceres when the Dawn spacecraft arrives.


2 posted on 06/26/2014 7:33:20 PM PDT by cripplecreek (Remember the River Raisin.)
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To: BenLurkin

I’ll have to watch for it.


3 posted on 06/26/2014 7:35:01 PM PDT by Star Traveler (Remember to keep the Messiah of Israel in the One-World Government that we look forward to coming)
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To: cripplecreek

Looks like it might have ice?


4 posted on 06/26/2014 7:36:42 PM PDT by BenLurkin (This is not a statement of fact. It is either opinion or satire; or both.)
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To: BenLurkin

Ice or its a death star.


5 posted on 06/26/2014 7:38:35 PM PDT by cripplecreek (Remember the River Raisin.)
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To: BenLurkin; SunkenCiv

This sounds Ceres.


6 posted on 06/26/2014 7:40:04 PM PDT by martin_fierro (< |:)~)
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To: BenLurkin

Actually lots of cool space stuff coming over the next couple of years.

I believe Dawn will arrive at Ceres later this year. New Horizons will make its closest pass by Pluto around July 6th next summer. Juno will arrive at Saturn in July of 2016.


7 posted on 06/26/2014 7:43:28 PM PDT by cripplecreek (Remember the River Raisin.)
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To: cripplecreek

It’s a trap!


8 posted on 06/26/2014 7:44:57 PM PDT by 17th Miss Regt
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To: cripplecreek
Juno will arrive at Saturn Jupiter in July of 2016.
9 posted on 06/26/2014 7:46:35 PM PDT by cripplecreek (Remember the River Raisin.)
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To: martin_fierro

Vey!


10 posted on 06/27/2014 6:16:25 AM PDT by BenLurkin (This is not a statement of fact. It is either opinion or satire; or both.)
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To: martin_fierro; brytlea; cripplecreek; decimon; bigheadfred; KoRn; Grammy; steelyourfaith; ...

Thanks martin_fierro, extra to APoD.


11 posted on 06/28/2014 10:16:30 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: martin_fierro

there could be a hugh collision.


12 posted on 06/28/2014 10:17:42 AM PDT by left that other site (You shall know the Truth, and The Truth Shall Set You Free.)
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