What are your plans for 6:28 p.m. EDT (2228 GMT) on Nov. 8?

A really big space rock, a/k/a asteroid will pass between the moon and our Earth on November 8th.

The Near-Earth asteroid 2005 YU55 will pass within 201,700 miles (325,000 kilometers) of Earth at 6:28 p.m. EDT (2228 GMT) on Nov. 8.  Personally, I am still trying to figure out if we will be able to see this object streak across the sky on this date.  Can any of our friends at our local Miami/Palmetto Bay Southern Cross Astronomical Society assist me in finding out?

Comments posted on NASA’s Near Earth Object Program website:

Near-Earth asteroid 2005 YU55 will pass within 0.85 lunar distances from the Earth on November 8, 2011. The upcoming close approach by this relatively large 400 meter-sized, C-type asteroid presents an excellent opportunity for synergistic ground-based observations including optical, near infrared and radar data. The attached animated illustration shows the Earth and moon flyby geometry for November 8th and 9th when the object will reach a visual brightness of 11th magnitude and should be easily visible to observers in the northern and southern hemispheres. The closest approach to Earth and the Moon will be respectively 0.00217 AU and 0.00160 AU on 2011 November 8 at 23:28 and November 9 at 07:13 UT.

For those of us who are not scientists, the explanation is that the asteroid will come within 202,000 miles of Earth, which is closer than the moon.  The average distance between Earth and the moon is 240,000 miles (386,242 km). This November 8 event will mark the closest visit by a space rock this size in more than three decades.  Reports are that  asteroid 2005 YU55  poses no change of hitting Earth, at least for this century. It comes closest, within about 167,000 miles, in 2094

Near-Earth asteroid 2005 YU55 is carbon-colored and dark, the asteroid measures some 1,300 feet wide. An object this size could really ruin our day if it ever hits the earth.

Experts assure us that an asteroid similar in size to 2005 YU55 won’t make its rounds until at least 2028., based on where it's likely to cross Earth's path on its elongated, 446-day orbit around the sun.

Click on the link - NASA’s Near Earth Object Program to view animated images of the Trajectory of Asteroid 2005 YU55 - November 8-9, 2011

SCAS SATURDAY NITE LIVE - Southern Cross Astronomical Society

(From the SCAS website – CLICK HERE to view the full site) Weather permitting, meet the friendly SOUTHERN CROSS ASTROS, 8-10 pm every Saturday evening all year at the FREE popular, outdoor SCAS Observatory in Miami-Dade's Bill Sadowski Park & Nature Center, SW 176th Street / SW 79th Ave., 1/2 mile west of Old Cutler Road. Under the darkest skies nearest to downtown, you might see a satellite a sudden brilliant meteor or the Int'l Space Station in addition to the seasonal planets, the magical Moon and dazzling constellations. Enjoy the beauty overhead in SCAS state-of-the-art hi-tech equipment, including the largest telescope in Miami-Dade County for public use.