The newly discovered asteroid came within half the distance from the Earth to the Moon
An asteroid came within half the distance from Earth to the Moon,
flying through cis-lunar space this morning. Scientists at the Catalina
Sky Survey discovered the asteroid, which is being called asteroid 2017
AG13, on Saturday.
The asteroid was between 50-111 feet across and was moving at about 10 miles (16 kilometers) per second, which was the same size as the asteroid that hit Russia in 2013. The size of the asteroid coupled with how fast it was moving and its low albedo (brightness) made it difficult to view through a telescope.
Asteroid 2017 AH13 is particularly interesting to astronomers because of its proximity to Earth in a group called the Aten Asteroids. Slooh Astronomer Eric Edelman said in a video that this asteroid is following an elliptical orbit versus the usual circular orbit, and crosses through the orbits of both Venus and Earth.
Source: Slooh.com
The asteroid was between 50-111 feet across and was moving at about 10 miles (16 kilometers) per second, which was the same size as the asteroid that hit Russia in 2013. The size of the asteroid coupled with how fast it was moving and its low albedo (brightness) made it difficult to view through a telescope.
Asteroid 2017 AH13 is particularly interesting to astronomers because of its proximity to Earth in a group called the Aten Asteroids. Slooh Astronomer Eric Edelman said in a video that this asteroid is following an elliptical orbit versus the usual circular orbit, and crosses through the orbits of both Venus and Earth.
About 38
more 'close approaches' like asteroid 2017 AG3's are expected within the
month of January alone, according to NASA's Near Earth Object Program.
Its next close approach to Earth is expected on December 28, 2017.
For
years scientists have been trying to work out how to deal with the
threat of an asteroid, which could hit us with little or no warning.
Now
the White House has released an official document describing the plan
if a meteor or asteroid was to head our way, and it shows we are
under-prepared.
Source: Slooh.com
No comments :
Post a Comment