Initial Radar 'Images' of Asteroid 2012 DA14

This 73-frame movie of asteroid 2012 DA14 was generated from data obtained by NASA's Goldstone Solar System Radar on the night of February 15 to 16, 2013.

This collage of 72 individual radar-generated images of asteroid 2012 DA14 was created using data from NASA's 230-foot (70-meter) Deep Space Network antenna at Goldstone, California. The data were collected on the night of February 15 to 16, 2013, after the asteroid had made its closest approach to Earth and was exiting the Earth-moon system. During the observations, the space rock's distance to Earth increased from 74,000 to 195,000 miles (120,000 to 314,000 kilometers).

Video credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

Note: For more information, see NASA Releases Radar Movie of Asteroid 2012 DA14.

Asteroid 2012 DA14

This movie shows the asteroid 2012 DA14 flying safely by Earth, as seen by the Gingin Observatory in Australia around the time of its closest approach, 11:24:42 a.m. PST (2:24:42 p.m. EST, or 19:24:24 UTC), February 15, 2013.

At that time, the asteroid was about 17,150 miles (27,600 kilometers) above Earth's surface.

The asteroid appears streaked because the telescope was focused on the stars while the asteroid passed through the field of view.

Video credit: Courtesy of Gingin Observatory/Tonello; text credit: NASA/JPL

Note: For more information, see:
* PIA16735: Approach of Asteroid 2012 DA14 from Samford Valley Observatory
* PIA16737: Asteroid 2012 DA14 as Seen from Siding Spring, Australia
* PIA16738: Outbound Near-Earth Asteroid, as Seen from Spain
* Near-Earth Asteroid Makes Preview Appearance
* NASA to Chronicle Close Earth Flyby of Asteroid
* Russia Meteor Not Linked to Asteroid Flyby
* Possible Seismic Activity on Asteroid 2012 DA14