Space Weather News for Jan. 25, 2009
http://spaceweather.com

CURIOUS ASTEROID FLYBY: Newly-discovered asteroid 2009 BD is slowly passing by Earth today only 400,000 miles away. The approximately 10 meter-wide space rock poses no significant threat, but it merits attention anyway: The orbit of 2009 BD appears to be almost identical to the orbit of Earth. 2009 BD may be a rare "co-orbital asteroid," circling the sun in near-tandem with our planet. If current measurements of the asteroid's orbit are correct, 2009 BD will remain in Earth's neighborhood for many months and possibly years to come. Visit http://spaceweather.com to view the asteroid's curious orbit.

SOLAR ECLIPSE WEBCASTS: At the time this email is being sent, an annular solar eclipse is just hours away. In support of the 2009 International Year of Astronomy, astronomers in the eclipse-zone have set up a network of cameras stretching from South Africa to Indonesia. Live webcasts will begin around 0600 UT on Monday, Jan. 26th. Follow the links at http://spaceweather.co