Space Weather News for Sept. 23, 2004
http://spaceweather.com

ASTEROID FLYBY: Asteroid 4179 Toutatis is flying past Earth this week. The
weirdly tumbling space rock is close enough (4 lunar distances) and bright
enough (9th magnitude) to see through backyard telescopes. For the next
few days it will scoot through the constellation Capricornus where amateur
astronomers worldwide can find it. By Sept. 29th, when Toutatis is
closest to Earth, it will be visible mainly from the southern hemisphere.
Observers there can see it passing not far from the bright star Alpha
Centauri. Follow the links at spaceweather.com to sky maps and detailed
ephemerides.

AURORA SEASON: Solar activity is low, and will probably remain so in the
days ahead. Nevertheless, this is the time of year to be extra-alert for
auroras. Studies show that northern autumn, which began on Sept. 22nd, is
the best of all seasons for geomagnetic storms. Visit spaceweather.com
for more information and pictures.

At 1.2 miles by 1.4 miles, and not quite 3 miles thick, and moving at 24000 miles per hour, better get the heavy duty hardhat. ;)

Comet for northern hemisphere viewing!
Check out comet Machholz if the weather will allow.
Sky and Telescope
Space Weather
You should be able to view comet Machholz with the naked eye or with binoculars in a dark sky.

CP