How to watch asteroid Eros's close encounter with Andromeda galaxy
What's the story
Today, a rare celestial event will occur as the near-Earth asteroid (433) Eros passes close to the Andromeda Galaxy. The Virtual Telescope Project and Asteroid Foundation are hosting a livestream of this unique occurrence. The event will begin at 3:00pm EST (1:30am IST tomorrow) and feature expert commentary from Gianluca Masi, founder of the Virtual Telescope Project.
Cosmic alignment
Eros's proximity to Andromeda: A unique opportunity
The close approach of asteroid Eros to the Andromeda Galaxy is a rare opportunity. "Having such an important near-Earth asteroid just a couple of degrees away from the legendary Andromeda Galaxy (Messier 31) is a precious opportunity," Masi told Space.com. He added that this event offers a chance to appreciate the importance of these kind of minor planets and the beauty of our cosmic neighbor, the Messier 31 island-universe.
Asteroid profile
Eros: A historic near-Earth asteroid
Eros, the first near-Earth asteroid discovered in 1898, was later visited by NASA's NEAR Shoemaker spacecraft. The probe orbited the 33km-wide body before making history with the first-ever asteroid landing on February 12, 2001. Now, Eros will be just 60 million kilometers away from Earth when it passes within two degrees of Andromeda's core tonight.
Skywatching guide
Viewing tips for Eros and Andromeda
To catch a glimpse of the wandering asteroid, viewers should look for both Eros and Andromeda high above the eastern horizon in the hours after sunset. First locate the constellations Cassiopeia and Andromeda using a star-finding astronomy app. Then use these to find their way to Andromeda.