GP59 Asteroid Video 2011: 'Winking' Asteroid Approaches, April 15

by NowPublic Staff | April 15, 2011 at 08:14 am

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A large asteroid will make a close approach to Earth on Friday April 15, 2011. The GP59 asteroid is expected to match its closest approach to the Earth on Friday.

GP59 won't come too close, however: about 533,000km from earth.

A man in England captured GP59 asteroid video Monday and posted it to YouTube. It's been referred to as a 'winking asteroid' since light reflects off it as it rotates, giving the appearance that it's "winking."

The GP59 asteroid is around 164 feet long and takes about seven-and-a-half minutes to rotate. In theory, if it were to hit the earth it would have the power of 15 atomic bombs.

Astronomers are assured that the GP59 asteroid poses no risk.

"There is no possibility of the small space rock entering Earth's atmosphere during this pass or for the foreseeable future," he said.

How Can I See the GP59 Asteroid?

Apparently, it's closest approach will happen sometime Friday around 3:00 pm Eastern Time (US). According to one blog, "even at closest approach you’d need a decent telescope to even see GP59."

Here is the GP59 asteroid video