Posted on Monday, March 19, 2012
Asteroid 2012 DA14 passed by earth very closely last month. The asteroid is about 50m in diameter. It was discovered by astronomers at the Observatorio Astronómico de La Sagra in Spain. However the asteroid was spotted after it was flown past the Earth.
So what now? ehh.. Asteroid will pass even closer in Feb 15, 2013 in about 22,000km from Earth's surface.
Below is the oblique view path of the asteroid 2012 DA14. It passes well inside our geosynchronous ring. That means, it passes closer than our man-made satellites.
Image Credit: NASA / JPL
In the above image, the asteroid 2012 DA14 is the yellow dot, Earth is green and the two orbits intersect twice per year. The asteroid 2012 DA14 has similar elliptical orbit that of the Earth. Astronomers will use this close approach to study the asteroid and calculate the Earth and Moon gravitational effects on it.
Will it hit the Earth on Feb 2013? "NO"
So what now? ehh.. Asteroid will pass even closer in Feb 15, 2013 in about 22,000km from Earth's surface.
Below is the oblique view path of the asteroid 2012 DA14. It passes well inside our geosynchronous ring. That means, it passes closer than our man-made satellites.
Image Credit: NASA / JPL
In the above image, the asteroid 2012 DA14 is the yellow dot, Earth is green and the two orbits intersect twice per year. The asteroid 2012 DA14 has similar elliptical orbit that of the Earth. Astronomers will use this close approach to study the asteroid and calculate the Earth and Moon gravitational effects on it.
Will it hit the Earth on Feb 2013? "NO"