Asteroid 2012 DA14 has already come and flown past earth (yesterday 2/15/2013). NASA/AP put together the brief video (attached to this article) describing the importance of asteroid study and the preparation/s for DA14. For the full version of the NASA video of the same link here. NASA folks generally explained that they were tracking it with radar (stations). In time for yesterday's flyover of DA14 NASA TV had a live broadcast of the event. A very brief review of the live TV event can be found in NASA's weekly YouTube post. The full broadcast video record can be found at NASA JPL Live (host: Gay Hill).
Ms. Hill explained that the asteroid was being tracked by multiple observatories staffed by hobbyists and professionals. The Bateman Observatory had produced some great video images of the flyover. The most significant one in the broadcast appeared to be the Gingin Observatory (near Perth, Australia). They had some of the best dark sky tracks of DA14 on the NASA webcast/video post. The combined video effort was also uploaded to CNN.
NASA supplied several technical staff and astronomers to support the technical portions of the webcast. It was here that we learned of a tool from NASA for us citizens: Eyes on the Solar System. The "Eyes" tool could further be used to track and interact with the flight path of the asteroid. We know it's too late for that now, perhaps, but it may be a useful gadget for those interested in the next asteroid or comet fly-by. The issue is that we do have an Asteroid Belt that acts as effective NEO delivery system - direct to us. Such a tool may be of paranoid interest to those waiting for the next Russian Meteor event?!
As to other asteroid events, NASA also has their Asteroid Watch tool (also on Twitter). Unfortunately, while we were preparing our own article on the Russian Meteor event NASA held a teleconference on the same yesterday. Getting back to the "Eyes" tool - it is an expanding feature and includes other virtual excursions such as an exploration of the Solar System. Another related tool (mentioned in yesterday's post) is the Meteor Counter app "available from Apple and Google Play". That's about all we have on gadgets for asteroids and astronomical flyovers.
