A chance to see an asteroid...

[AustinBoston]

The solar system contains thousands of known asteroids.  Despite this, very few people ever see one (except in pictures).  For the next few weeks, it will be possible to see an asteroid (4 Vesta) without a telescope or binoculars.

There is a catch.  You will need truly dark (and clear) skies to see it.  Dark skies mean being many miles away from cities, street lights, shopping malls, sports stadiums, etc.  Dark skies also means you have to observe at a time when the moon is not in the sky.

4 Vesta is about 330 miles across, and while it is not the biggest asteroid, it is the brightest.  In some rather rare conditions, it will be near it's closest approach to the sun at the same time the earth is very near the same point (the two will still be more than 100 million miles apart) on May 30.  Unfortunately, the moon is likely to make it impossible to see at that time, but trying after midnight about a week before (this weekend) or before midnight about a week after might be good times.

This asteroid has appeared visibly in the sky for about a month roughly every 20 years forever, yet as far as we know, nobody recognized it until it was seen by telescope in 1807.

For a time, Vesta and a few other asteroids were counted among the planets.

See my second reference below for some assitance in finding it.  Good luck!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4_Vesta
http://skytonight.com/observing/home/7297386.html

Austin

[cinnabar]

The only comet I've ever seen was Halebop or something like that, you know the one where the people with the Nike shoes hitched a ride on.

[AustinBoston]

The only comet I've ever seen was Halebop or something like that, you know the one where the people with the Nike shoes hitched a ride on.

Hale-Bopp was a comet, a visitor from deep space that ends up with a spectacular tail.  Lots of comets end up being visible (in good conditons) without telescopes.  

4 Vesta is an asteroid, which means it acts like a planet, only much smaller.  4 vesta is the only one that can be seen without a telescope.

Austin