On June 19, 2004, at the Kitt Peak National Observatory in Tucson, Arizona, astronomers Roy Tucker, David Tholen, and Fabrizio Bernardi discovered Asteroid Apophis. This Near-Earth Object (NEO), approximately 1,099 to 1,230 feet (335 to 375 meters) wide, reached the highest ever rating of level 4 out of 10 on the Torino Impact Hazard Scale,Continue reading "June 19, 2004: Astroid Apophis is discovered"

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Looking for a sky event this week? Check out our full Sky This Week column.  June 18: The Moon and the Sickle Saturn rules the early-morning sky, shining at 1st magnitude in otherwise dim Pisces the Fish. One of the ringed planet’s many moons, Dione, passes due north of Saturn the morning of June 19. The 10th-magnitudeContinue reading "The Sky Today on Friday, June 19: Dione crosses due north of Saturn"

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Friday, June 19The Moon passes 0.3°  south of Regulus at 11 A.M. EDT. By evening, our satellite has moved farther east to lie to the bright star’s upper left as they slowly set in the west after sunset.  Bright Venus is now located in central Cancer and is just 45’ north of M44, the BeehiveContinue reading "The Sky This Week from June June 19 to 26: The summer solstice"

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