Asteroid 2023 DZ2 is a near-Earth asteroid that will safely pass by Earth this weekend. It was discovered on February 27, 2023, by astronomers at the La Palma Observatory in the Canary Islands, Spain.
The asteroid is estimated to be between 40 and 90 meters in diameter, and will pass Earth at a distance of about 108,000 kilometers on Saturday, March 25. This is about half the distance between Earth and the moon.
While this is a close encounter, there is no risk of the asteroid impacting Earth. Asteroids like 2023 DZ2 pass by Earth frequently, and NASA’s Center for Near Earth Object Studies estimates that a near-Earth asteroid of this size will impact Earth once every 10,000 years.
The close encounter with 2023 DZ2 will provide astronomers with an opportunity to study the asteroid up close. They will be able to learn more about its composition, its shape, and its orbit around the sun. This information could help scientists better understand the risks posed by near-Earth asteroids.
It is also an opportunity for amateur astronomers to observe the asteroid. On Saturday, March 25, the asteroid will be visible through binoculars and small telescopes. It will be located above the southeastern horizon and will be on the left side of Procyon.
What is an asteroid?
An asteroid is a small, rocky body that orbits the sun. Asteroids are also known as minor planets or planetoids. They are much smaller than planets, and they are made up of rock and metal.
Asteroids are thought to have formed from the same material as the planets, but they never grew large enough to become planets. They orbit the sun in the same way that planets do, but they are much smaller and they are much more common.
What is a near-Earth asteroid?
A near-Earth asteroid is an asteroid that comes close to Earth. Near-Earth asteroids are defined as asteroids that come within 190 million kilometers of Earth.
There are millions of near-Earth asteroids, and they come in all shapes and sizes. Some near-Earth asteroids are as small as a few meters across, while others are as large as several kilometers across.
What is the risk of an asteroid impacting Earth?
The risk of an asteroid impacting Earth is very small. However, it is not zero. Asteroids have impacted Earth in the past, and they will impact Earth in the future.
The most recent asteroid impact on Earth was in 2013. A 20-meter asteroid exploded over Chelyabinsk, Russia, injuring over 1,500 people.
What is NASA doing to protect Earth from asteroids?
NASA is working to protect Earth from asteroids through a variety of programs. These programs include:
- The Spaceguard Survey: The Spaceguard Survey is a program that is searching for near-Earth asteroids. The Spaceguard Survey has discovered over 90% of the near-Earth asteroids that are larger than 1 kilometer in diameter.
- The Near-Earth Object Program: The Near-Earth Object Program is a program that is studying near-Earth asteroids. The Near-Earth Object Program is learning more about the composition, the shape, and the orbit of near-Earth asteroids.
- The Asteroid Redirect Mission: The Asteroid Redirect Mission is a program that is developing a spacecraft that will redirect an asteroid. The Asteroid Redirect Mission could help scientists learn more about the formation of the solar system.
How To Find 2023 DZ2 with Stellarium
Although this is a large asteroid, it will appear as a tiny moving star through a small telescope. We need a GOTO mount and some planning in a tool such as Stellarium if we are to find it in the night sky.
In the video above, I go through step by step how to:
- Add the asteroid to Stellarium
- Show the path of the asteroid
- Find the best time to view it
Add 2023 DZ2 to Stellarium
If you type in 2023 DZ2 into Stellarium and nothing shows up, then you need to add it to the program. This takes just a few simple steps.
- Open the Sky & Viewing Options F4
- Click on SSO tab (solar system objects)
- Click Solar System Editor button at the bottom
- Click Import orbital elements in MPC format button
- Under “Select Bookmark” scroll down to “Near Earth Objects”
- Enter 2023 DZ2 into the search bar and add it to the program
Show asteroid orbital path in Stellarium
- Open the Sky & Viewing Options F4
- Click “Show Orbits”