1. Record-Breaking
Asteroid to Narrowly Miss Earth
Tomorrow
night, Friday, February 15th, people all over the world will closely watch an
asteroid as it passes extremely close to Earth, closer even than geosynchronous
satellites in orbit. If such a space rock collided with Earth, it could cause
untold devastation to cities and countries. 50,000 years ago a meteorite
impacted Arizona to form Meteor Crater, and in 1908 an asteroid or comet burst
over Siberia, flattening thousands of square kilometres of
forests.
However,
scientists are confident that such a collision will not happen this time round,
and Astronomy
Ireland is hosting a special Asteroid Watch to point some extremely powerful
telescopes to the sky to observe the space rock as it passes. This event is free
and is ideal for people of all ages and experience. It will take place at 8pm on
Friday at the Astronomy Ireland Telescope
Shop in Swords, Co Dublin.
2012
DA14 will be easily spotted with binoculars in the northern sky. If you see it,
be sure to let us know by emailing observe@astronomy.ie
For
further information on asteroid 2012 DA14, its path through the sky, and
the Asteroid Watch, please visit www.astronomy.ie or call us on (01) 890 11
11.
TV
AND RADIO
David
Moore, Chairman of Astronomy Ireland, will appear on RTE2's Elev8 at noon
tomorrow. If you miss it, you can watch it later on at www.youtube.com/astronomyireland.
David is also due to feature on a number of radio shows, so be sure to keep an
eye on www.astronomy.ie/audio
over the coming days.
2. Planet Cosmo: A New Children's
TV Show
We are delighted to announce that a new
children's astronomy television show called Planet Cosmo will air on
Monday, February 18th, at 9:10am on RTE2. Astronomy Ireland assisted in the
show's development by helping with information on the
planets.
Planet Cosmo is new animated series with plenty
of laughs, songs, fun and adventure! Cosmo and her family live on the Moon, and
in each episode they travel through the Solar System and visit the eight
colourful planets! Each one, in its own way, is totally amazing; even Earth,
that little blue planet you call home!
You can watch a trailer for Planet Cosmo HERE.