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Eddie Irizarry

Eddie Irizarry

Eddie Irizarry of the Sociedad de Astronomía del Caribe (Astronomical Society of the Caribbean) has been a NASA Solar System Ambassador since 2004. He loves public outreach and has published multiple astronomy articles for EarthSky, as well as for newspapers in Puerto Rico. He has also offered dozens of conferences related to asteroids and comets at the Arecibo Observatory.
Asteroid 33012EddieIrizarry, a 7.8 km space rock, has been named in his honor.

A fuzzy green comet in front of the stars.

How to see bright Comet ATLAS

Posted by in Space | 2 days ago
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Comet C/2019 Y4 (ATLAS) isn’t bright enough to see with the unaided eye … yet. But it’s getting brighter. Will it provide a good show or fizzle out? Learn more here.
Large space rock passing near Earth.

Here’s how to see that huge asteroid that’ll safely pass Earth in April

Posted by in Astronomy Essentials | Space | 3 weeks ago
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The huge asteroid known as (52768) 1998 OR2 will pass closest on April 29, 2020. Observers peering through telescopes will see it as a slow-moving “star.” Charts, tips – plus how to watch online – here.

No, asteroid 2007 FT3 won’t hit Earth in October

Posted by and in Space | 6 months ago
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Why is the internet so chock-full of stories about asteroids on a collision course with Earth? At this rate, we should have been obliterated many times over already. Here comes the newest scare story: asteroid 2007 FT3. No, it won’t hit us, either.
A blank fuzzy images with 3 red crosses.

ESA and ESO confirm asteroid will miss Earth in September

Posted by in Space | 8 months ago
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Asteroid 2006 QV89, a space rock that’ll pass closest to Earth on September 9, will not strike Earth. Details here, including a recent, fortunate non-detection of the asteroid by ESA and ESO.
Weather satellite image of a bright flash above the ocean.

A small asteroid hit us last weekend

Posted by in Space | 9 months ago
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Asteroid 2019 MO exploded in our atmosphere with an energy of about 3 to 5 kilotons of TNT. Such events happen once or twice yearly, astronomers say. Most are unexpected, but this space rock was detected hours before it struck.

Video: Asteroid 1999 KW4 as it swept past

Posted by in Space | 10 months ago
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It wasn’t visible to the eye, but some telescope users in Earth’s Southern Hemisphere caught it at its May 25 closest approach. Now Northern Hemisphere observers will get their chance. Charts here, and check out this cool video!
Video still of April 6, 2019 meteor.

Another asteroid disintegrates over Russia

Posted by in Human World | Space | 12 months ago
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A bright meteor was caught in many dashcam videos – in broad daylight – on April 6, 2019, over the Russian city of Krasnoyarsk. See a video compilation here.
Line-drawing illustration of the passage of 2019 FC1.

Speedy asteroid buzzed Earth last week, 1 day before being detected

Posted by in Space | 12 months ago
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A small asteroid – now designated as 2019 FC1 – flew closer to us than the moon on March 28, 2019. Astronomers detected it 1 day later. It’s the largest of 14 asteroids to pass closer to us than the moon since 2019 began.

Woot! 4,001 exoplanets and counting 

Posted by in Space | 1 year ago
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The Exoplanet Team, led by the Observatoire de Paris, announced this week that the list of known exoplanets – planets orbiting distant stars – has grown to 4,001!

Irregular space rock in foreground, Earth in background.

Small asteroid to sweep closer than moon’s distance

Posted by in Space | 1 year ago
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The house-sized asteroid – designated 2019 EA2 – will pass safely by our planet on the night of March 21-22, 2019.