Toutatis Getting Brighter

Asteroid 4179 Toutatis, which came close to Earth on Halloween 2000, is actually brightening as it moves away from our planet. During last month's close encounter, Toutatis passed almost directly between Earth and the Sun. Like a new Moon (which also lies between Earth and the Sun) Toutatis was dark and hard to see. Now it's brightening again. The asteroid's visual magnitude will peak next week at 14.6 as it zooms through the constellation Leo. Amateur astronomers with 8+ inch telescopes can see Toutatis for themselves using this ephemeris.