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 Posted 6/28/2006 7:29:27 PM |
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An asteroid possibly as large as a half-mile or more in diameter is rapidly approaching the Earth. There is no need for concern, for no collision is in the offing, but the space rock will make an exceptionally close approach to our planet early on Monday, July 3, passing just beyond the Moon’s average distance from Earth.
Astronomers will attempt to get a more accurate assessment of the asteroid’s size by “pinging” it with radar.
And skywatchers with good telescopes and some experience just might be able to get a glimpse of this cosmic rock as it streaks rapidly past our planet in the wee hours Monday. The closest approach occurs late Sunday for U.S. West Coast skywatchers.
The asteroid, designated 2004 XP14, was discovered on Dec. 10, 2004 by the Lincoln Laboratory Near Earth Asteroid Research (LINEAR), a continuing camera survey to keep watch for asteroids that may pass uncomfortably close to Earth.
Although initially there were concerns that this asteroid might possibly impact Earth later this century and thus merit special monitoring, further analysis of its orbit has since ruled out any such collision, at least in the foreseeable future.
http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/060626_asteroid_close.html
Any comments on the subject
zirean
Any comments on the subject
zirean |
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Posted 2 days ago @ 2:09:28 PM |
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You had slight error in your text. You say Asteroid is going to pass within 20 000 miles(approximately 32000km) and also you say same asteroid passing slight over distance to moon. True distance between earth and sun is between 360 000km and 400 000km so I presume you meant 200 000 miles. That 20 000 miles would be horrificly near
Here are some data about the Moon:
Distance from the Earth:
perigee (closest): 363,000 km
semimajor axis (mean distance): 384,400 km.
apogee (farthest): 406,000 km |
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Posted 2 days ago @ 10:15:19 PM |
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Sorry about the mistake, but it wasn't mine. I copied the text directly from the site below as mentioned in my original posting.
http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/060626_asteroid_close.html
The Article was posted by:-
Huge Asteroid to Fly Past Earth July 3
By Joe Rao
SPACE.com Skywatching Columnist
posted: 26 June 2006
11:50 am ET
zirean |
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