Asteroid 2012 DA14 will pass by Earth at a distance of 22,500km on 15 February 2013, with the event to be livestreamed for the public from telescopes in Spain. Pictured is a photograph the European Space Agency's Rosetta spacecraft beamed back of asteroid Lutetia, an ancient, cratered relic from the dawn of the Solar System, in 2010. Credit: ESA
SYDNEY: An asteroid the size of a city block is due to come whizzing past Earth on February 15, closer than any other of its size in recorded history, according to astronomers.
The asteroid, referred to as 2012 DA14, has a diameter of approximately 45m and an estimated mass of 130,000 tonnes. It was discovered at the start of 2012 and is set to travel between the Earth and our geostationary communication satellites on 15 February 2013. At a distance of just 22,500km this will be the closest asteroid ‘fly by’ in recorded history.
Asteroid and comet researchers will be gathering at the University of Central Florida (UCF) in Orlando, U.S., to watch the event, but experts say there is no chance of a collision – this time.
“I think perhaps the most important thing about this asteroid is that it reminds us that the threat from such objects is very real,” said Jonti Horner, an independent astronomer at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia.
The destructive force of an atomic bomb
It is important to monitor all asteroids that pass close by in case any are on a collision course with Earth. NASA has identified 4,700 asteroids that are potential threats to us, some of which are up to two or three kilometres in diameter.
Any asteroid likely to collide with Earth must have its composition and structure analysed so that it can be deflected, according to a statement from UCF.
A collision with even a small asteroid could be disastrous, with an impact from 2012 DA14 estimated to equal the destructive force of an atomic bomb. “The world’s most famous impact crater – the Barringer Crater in Arizona, U.S. – which is about 1,200m in diameter and 170m deep, was formed when an object thought to have been just 50m in diameter hit the Earth,” said Horner.
“An incredibly near miss”
“While it’s not unusual for asteroids to come close to the Earth, there are a couple of reasons the approach of this one is particularly exciting for astronomers,” said Horner.
“Having a 45m space rock pass under 30,000km from the Earth is an incredibly near miss in astronomical terms, which should mean we can learn a great deal about it as it tears past the Earth,” he said.
Asteroids offer valuable insight into the formation of our Solar System, according to Humberto Campins who is an asteroid and comet expert at UCF and led the first team to discover ice on an asteroid in 2010.
The asteroid will not pass through our atmosphere and so is unlikely to break up. However, “forces from Earth could change its shape if it is a rubble pile and not a single rock. At this time we do not know which of those two it is,” added Campins.
Any change in the composition or shape of the asteroid has the capability to alter its path, which could see it come even closer to Earth in the future.
The asteroid will be too faint to see with the naked eye, although it will be visible through binoculars or a telescope. Additionally, live feeds from telescopes in Spain will offer the public the chance to witness the event.
Animation of the close encounter with 2012 DA14 from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
2012 DA14 Earth Impact Risk Summary, NASA
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… to Earth in recent years than this one: check this table; the respective geocentric AU value for 2012 DA14 is 0.0002338. It will be an interesting target for observations, even for amateur astronomers, but any sensational headlines are undeserved.
We asked our independent expert for a direct response to your comment. Please find his answer below.
Regards,
Gemma Black
COSMOS Staff Writer
The record ‘closest approach’ to Earth is hard to tie down,
since it depends on just how large an object you’re interested in.
Every day, a huge amount of material from space hits the Earth and burns
up harmlessly in the atmosphere – creating the meteors that we see on
any clear night. The bigger you go, the rarer the encounters, and the rarer the impacts.
However, it’s probably fair to say that this is the closest approach by
any object this large since we became capable of tracking and observing
them – that we know of!
– Jonti Horner
Australian Centre for Astrobiology
University of NSW, Australia
February ? 15 th ? It’ s the Galileo Galilei birthday ;DDD
For including these words in your headline:
“recorded history”
I loath when other information agencies use the dreaded “closest ever” wording.
It’s passing between the Earth and our communications satellites? Doesn’t that mean those satellites are in danger of being taken out as it flies past? Isn’t that kind of a big deal?
It’s small, and its path is very well known. On the remote chance of a collision course being spotted, any active satellite will just change its orbit a little, so as to ensure a miss.
YES-THEY ALTER THE GEOSYNCHRONOUS ORBIT
ALL Should Look Up “2012 DA14″.
This could take out one of more satellites and the junk and debris from the hit could end up taking out many more satellites very soon after that. All the satellite collision probability will go way up if even one is hit. The velocity that the parts would go to would make them missiles that would start targeting a chain reaction this would not be good.
Most all will be watching this one and pray it goes by us with out a hit. Every Scientist alive will be watching this event. Many will be in Florida for a very special viewing of the once in a Lifetime Event. Professors, Scientist, World Leaders, Ham Radio and Every Astronomers will have its eyes on This Event.
Read your Bible
The Lord’s Little Helper.
Paul Felix Schott.
How many Satellites will this one take out.
ALL Should Look Up “2012 DA14″.
This could take out one of more satellites and the junk and debris from the hit could end up taking out many more satellites very soon after that. All the satellite collision probability will go way up if even one is hit. The velocity that the parts would go to would make them missiles that would start targeting a chain reaction this would not be good.
Most all will be watching this one and pray it goes by us with out a hit. Every Scientist alive will be watching this event. Many will be in Florida for a very special viewing of the once in a Lifetime Event. Professors, Scientist, World Leaders, Ham Radio Operators and Every Astronomer will have its eyes on This Event, along with almost every TV set on Earth.
Read your Bible
While you still can.
John 14 : 6
Luke 13 : 27
Matthew 7 : 20 – 27
The Lord’s Little Helper.
Paul Felix Schott.
Editor – PLEASE CORRECT THE FIRST LINE OF YOUR ARTICLE. Don’t you mean “city bus” instead of “city block”? If you’re getting paid to write, you should do a better job of it, or go find something else to do.
Asteroid diameter at 45 m, not sure we have any city buses that are close to 150 ft in any dimension…
Asteroid diameter at 45 m, not sure we have any city buses that are close to 150 ft in any dimension…
ooh ooh can we shoot a rocket at it to see what happens… good practise
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