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2012 BX34: Behind the Scenes in the Discovery of a Near Earth Asteroid
The images in which asteroid 2012 BX34 was discovered. Images are from Jan. 25, 2012 10:30 UT. Credit: Alex Gibbs, Catalina Sky Survey/University of Arizona
Several blockbuster movies, television shows and commercials have depicted the discovery of an asteroid heading towards Earth and usually, somehow, impending doom is averted. But how do the discoveries of Near Earth Objects really happen? Asteroid 2012 BX34 buzzed by Earth last week, and even though this small asteroid was never considered a threat to Earth, its discovery still piqued the interest of the public. It was discovered by Alex Gibbs, an astronomer and software engineer from the Catalina Sky Survey. Universe Today asked Gibbs to share his experiences of being an asteroid hunter and what it was like to find this latest NEO that made the Top-20 list of closest approaches to Earth.
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© nancy for Universe Today, 2012. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Asteroid 2012 BX34, Asteroids, Catalina Sky Survey
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