# Where will 3200 Phaethon pass over the earth?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-will-3200-phaethon-pass-over-the-earth/803216>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [December 1, 2017, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-will-3200-phaethon-pass-over-the-earth/803216 "2017-12-01T03:24:33Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\
**Post date:** [December 1, 2017, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-will-3200-phaethon-pass-over-the-earth/803216/1 "2017-12-01T03:24:33Z")

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Just wondering where on earth the best place to watch for this would be.

Been googling without any luck. Maybe they are unsure? Too soon to tell?

Anyone have any idea?

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**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\
**Post date:** [December 1, 2017, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-will-3200-phaethon-pass-over-the-earth/803216/2 "2017-12-01T03:39:01Z")

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This might help.

> **[Asteroid 3200 Phaethon: Geminid Parent at Its Closest and Brightest!](https://skyandtelescope.org/observing/3200-phaethon/)**
>
> The Geminid meteor shower will be extra special this year because its parent asteroid, 3200 Phaethon, will be dropping by, too!

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**Author:** ![OldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3bc359/32.png) [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)\
**Post date:** [December 1, 2017, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-will-3200-phaethon-pass-over-the-earth/803216/3 "2017-12-01T03:39:49Z")

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It’s about 3 miles wide and will only get to within about 6 million miles about 27 times as far away as the moon. Any place on Earth will be just about as good as any other as it won’t appear to be moving too much so just wait until you’re spot on Earth is on the correct side. It’a going about as fast (apparently) as a satellite

Of course you won’t see anything at all with the naked eye. It won’t have a tail like a comet. It will be about 10th magnitude.

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**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\
**Post date:** [December 1, 2017, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-will-3200-phaethon-pass-over-the-earth/803216/4 "2017-12-01T03:45:35Z")

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**elbows** : you can go to [this page](https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/horizons.cgi?find_body=1&body_group=sb&sstr=3200), input your location, and generate an ephemeris. Don’t forget that telescope.

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**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\
**Post date:** [December 1, 2017, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-will-3200-phaethon-pass-over-the-earth/803216/5 "2017-12-01T04:52:28Z")

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I skimmed the GQ thread titles and thought “[What’s this about a '32 Phaeton](http://www.velocityjournal.com/pictures/org/454/35899.html) being sent into orbit?”