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Asteroid to Pass Extremely Close By Earth On Monday by Joe Rao, SPACE.com Skywatching ColumnistDate: 24 June 2011 Time: 08:59 AM ET
Here's something to dwell on as you head to work on Monday morning: A small asteroid the size of a tour bus will make an extremely close pass by the Earth at about that time, but it poses no threat to the planet.
The asteroid will make its closest approach at 9:26 a.m. EDT (1326 GMT) on June 27 and will pass just over 7,500 miles (12,000 kilometers) above the Earth's surface, NASA officials say. At that particular moment, the asteroid — which scientists have named 2011 MD — will be sailing high off the coast of Antarctica, almost 2,000 miles (3,218 km) south-southwest of South Africa.
Asteroid 2011 MD was discovered Wednesday (June 22) by LINEAR, a pair of robotic telescopes in New Mexico that scan the skies for near-Earth asteroids. The best estimates suggest that this asteroid is between 29 to 98 feet (9 to 30 meters) wide.
According to NASA's Near-Earth Object Office at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, Calif., an object of this size can be expected to come this close to Earth about every 6 years or so, on average.
"There is no chance that 2011 MD will hit Earth but scientists will use the close pass as opportunity to study it w/ radar observations," astronomers with NASA's Asteroid Watch program at JPL wrote in a Twitter post Thursday (June 23). [Photo of asteroid 2011MD trajectory]
Even if the asteroid were to enter Earth's atmosphere, it likely wouldn't reach the surface, they added.
"Asteroid 2011 MD measures about 10 meters. Stony asteroids less than 25 m would break up in Earth's atmosphere & not cause ground damage," Asteroid Watch scientists said.
The asteroid's upcoming Earth flyby will be a close shave, but not a record for nearby passing asteroids. The record is currently held by the asteroid 2011 CQ1, which came within 3,400 miles (5,471 kilometers) of Earth on Feb. 4 of this year.
A tricky skywatching target
For several hours prior to its closest approach, 2011 MD will be visible in moderately-large amateur telescopes. But despite its close approach, actually seeing this asteroid will not be an easy task.
"These objects are so small (10 meters) that normally a sizeable telescope is required," Asteroid Watch scientists warned.
You will need to have access to an excellent star atlas, and because it will be moving so rapidly you'll also need the very latest data from the Minor Planet Center to track its precise course against the background stars. The asteroid is not expected to get very bright; about 250 times dimmer than the faintest stars visible to the eye without optical aid. [Photos: Asteroids in Deep Space]
The asteroid will pass so close that Earth's gravity will sharply alter the asteroid's trajectory.
After making its closest pass to Earth, the asteroid will zoom through the zone of geosynchronous satellites. The chance of a collision with a satellite or piece of space junk is exceedingly remote.
History of near-Earth asteroids
On Oct. 28, 1937, German astronomer Karl Reinmuth (1892-1979) accidentally photographed the long trail of a fast moving asteroid. Two nights later, this asteroid passed within 460,000 miles of the Earth. Reinmuth named it Hermes, after the Olympian god of boundaries and travelers.
Since the vast majority of asteroids (so far numbering over 210,000) congregate between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter, astronomers at that time felt that Hermes' very close approach was an outstanding exception.
"Astronomers of the day were somewhat biased," explained NASA asteroid scientist Paul Chodas. "They had convinced themselves that collisions were too rare to consider."
Since then, astronomers have learned that asteroids can make very close approaches to Earth with far greater frequency than previously thought. Asteroid 2011 MD's Monday pass is a prime example of that.
Of the 8,099 Near-Earth objects that have been discovered, about 827 of them are asteroids with a diameter of approximately a half-mile (1 km) or larger. About 1,236 of these NEOs have been classified as Potentially Hazardous Asteroids (PHAs).
NASA currently plans to launch a probe to visit one of these potentially dangerous near-Earth objects and return samples of the asteroid to Earth.
That mission will launch the OSIRIS-Rex asteroid probe in 2016 to rendezvous with the space rock 1999 RQ36 in 2020. The target asteroid is 1,900 feet (580 meters) wide and has a 1-in-1,800 chance of hitting Earth in the year 2170, and a 1-in-1,000 chance of slamming into us in 2182.
Joe Rao serves as an instructor and guest lecturer at New York's Hayden Planetarium. He writes about astronomy for The New York Times and other publications, and he is also an on-camera meteorologist for News 12 Westchester, New York.
Here's something to dwell on as you head to work on Monday morning: A small asteroid the size of a tour bus will make an extremely close pass by the Earth at about that time, but it poses no threat to the planet.
The asteroid will make its closest approach at 9:26 a.m. EDT (1326 GMT) on June 27 and will pass just over 7,500 miles (12,000 kilometers) above the Earth's surface, NASA officials say. At that particular moment, the asteroid — which scientists have named 2011 MD — will be sailing high off the coast of Antarctica, almost 2,000 miles (3,218 km) south-southwest of South Africa.
Asteroid 2011 MD was discovered Wednesday (June 22) by LINEAR, a pair of robotic telescopes in New Mexico that scan the skies for near-Earth asteroids. The best estimates suggest that this asteroid is between 29 to 98 feet (9 to 30 meters) wide.
According to NASA's Near-Earth Object Office at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, Calif., an object of this size can be expected to come this close to Earth about every 6 years or so, on average.
"There is no chance that 2011 MD will hit Earth but scientists will use the close pass as opportunity to study it w/ radar observations," astronomers with NASA's Asteroid Watch program at JPL wrote in a Twitter post Thursday (June 23). [Photo of asteroid 2011MD trajectory]
Even if the asteroid were to enter Earth's atmosphere, it likely wouldn't reach the surface, they added.
"Asteroid 2011 MD measures about 10 meters. Stony asteroids less than 25 m would break up in Earth's atmosphere & not cause ground damage," Asteroid Watch scientists said.
The asteroid's upcoming Earth flyby will be a close shave, but not a record for nearby passing asteroids. The record is currently held by the asteroid 2011 CQ1, which came within 3,400 miles (5,471 kilometers) of Earth on Feb. 4 of this year.
A tricky skywatching target
For several hours prior to its closest approach, 2011 MD will be visible in moderately-large amateur telescopes. But despite its close approach, actually seeing this asteroid will not be an easy task.
"These objects are so small (10 meters) that normally a sizeable telescope is required," Asteroid Watch scientists warned.
You will need to have access to an excellent star atlas, and because it will be moving so rapidly you'll also need the very latest data from the Minor Planet Center to track its precise course against the background stars. The asteroid is not expected to get very bright; about 250 times dimmer than the faintest stars visible to the eye without optical aid. [Photos: Asteroids in Deep Space]
The asteroid will pass so close that Earth's gravity will sharply alter the asteroid's trajectory.
After making its closest pass to Earth, the asteroid will zoom through the zone of geosynchronous satellites. The chance of a collision with a satellite or piece of space junk is exceedingly remote.
History of near-Earth asteroids
On Oct. 28, 1937, German astronomer Karl Reinmuth (1892-1979) accidentally photographed the long trail of a fast moving asteroid. Two nights later, this asteroid passed within 460,000 miles of the Earth. Reinmuth named it Hermes, after the Olympian god of boundaries and travelers.
Since the vast majority of asteroids (so far numbering over 210,000) congregate between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter, astronomers at that time felt that Hermes' very close approach was an outstanding exception.
"Astronomers of the day were somewhat biased," explained NASA asteroid scientist Paul Chodas. "They had convinced themselves that collisions were too rare to consider."
Since then, astronomers have learned that asteroids can make very close approaches to Earth with far greater frequency than previously thought. Asteroid 2011 MD's Monday pass is a prime example of that.
Of the 8,099 Near-Earth objects that have been discovered, about 827 of them are asteroids with a diameter of approximately a half-mile (1 km) or larger. About 1,236 of these NEOs have been classified as Potentially Hazardous Asteroids (PHAs).
NASA currently plans to launch a probe to visit one of these potentially dangerous near-Earth objects and return samples of the asteroid to Earth.
That mission will launch the OSIRIS-Rex asteroid probe in 2016 to rendezvous with the space rock 1999 RQ36 in 2020. The target asteroid is 1,900 feet (580 meters) wide and has a 1-in-1,800 chance of hitting Earth in the year 2170, and a 1-in-1,000 chance of slamming into us in 2182.
Joe Rao serves as an instructor and guest lecturer at New York's Hayden Planetarium. He writes about astronomy for The New York Times and other publications, and he is also an on-camera meteorologist for News 12 Westchester, New York.
Not the article. The comments.
People Say 49 minutes ago
Odd.....Do you hear trumpets ?
Reply
prophetjimi 1 hours ago
We are only told of the rocks that are known to be on paths that miss. The ones that DO impact are immediately reported as "earthquakes" "tsunamis" "gas pipe explosions" "sink holes" etc - all in an attempt to play down the impending big hit that'll knock out agriculture. There will be no warning for that event, just millions waking under a black cloud that they're told is some sort of "eruption" or "rogue nuclear explosion."
Gitmo is littered with dissident victim "scientists" who tried to break ranks and blow the whistle. Their reports are concealed by Mogul Control Global Media and they lose their reserved condos in the underground bunker cities.
All "main stream media" worldwide is the same person/corporate board conditioning sheeple for the same scenario, as exposed here:
rockprophecy.com/gang80.html
Reply
2 replies
Charlie 38 minutes ago
Wow!!
Now that is some very heavy thinking. Did you do that all by yourself, or did the voices help you?
Reply
1 replies
Arvada Mark 9 minutes ago
"...heavy thinking."? Try heavy DRINKING.
Reply
FRANK 2 hours ago
86.4 PERCENT OF ALL STATISTICS ARE MADE UP ON THE SPOT
Reply
greg 2 hours ago
Did I look this up right? The asteroid is traveling at close to 24,000 km/hr? I wouldn't want to try to stop that thing.
Reply
ByteRider 2 hours ago
What you are not being told is the percentages.
There is a 38% chance the asteroid could hit the earth and a 62% chance it won't.
The unknowns are how the gravitational effect of the earth will tug on the asteroid. If there is a large tug, there will be a hit. Some scientists predict the tug WILL be large because the placement of Jupiter and Mars are such that they will not help "lighten" the gravitational effect.
If the asteroid hits, it will be above the equater line. Exact place where it will be hit cannot be predicted at this time [should it hit]. Being told it will be the "north pole" is a joke and should raise eye browse with any scientist out there who know that Newtonian physics are not exact at large distances.
Just food for thought...
Dr. B
Reply
Christopher Pickard 4 hours ago
well they would say that
Reply
Alex 4 hours ago
9 meters - no worries, but 30 meters sounds like a Tunguska event. Why such a big range of a size measurement.
Reply
Skip Huffman 5 hours ago
Wow. I wonder how they can be so much more precise in SAE measurements than in Metric. Oh, wait, they aren't, someone just did a clumsy conversion, then put the converted numbers as the main and the metric, ie REAL, measurement in parentheses.
Reply
Zach Day 5 hours ago
So how impressed is everyone that they found it a whole 5 days before its closest point to earth? I know i am! Woohoo Money well spent!
And what a great moderator you have here..to stop thoughtful, fact based comments, obviously only blocked based on a difference of opinion. Is this a Russian or chinese website?
Reply
7 replies
Kentercat 15 minutes ago
As for blocking comments - that's automatic if certain words are used, and there doesn't seem to be too much rhyme or reason to which words. For example, the name of the largest moon of Saturn - that word is considered reason enough to block a comment to "awaiting moderation". Yeah, go figure. It's not like this is a space site or something.
Reply
RobF 3 hours ago
You do not have a right to an opinion.
You have the right to an INFORMED opinion, which you clearly do not possess.
Troll better, troll elsewhere.
Reply
5 replies
Zach Day 1 hours ago
So who is to inform me? Nasa, with thier total lack of information of any near earth objects on thier site? The main stream media, who never covers these occurances in any way, not even to tell me to get out my telescope i might get a show? How about this, not everyone is a blind sheep, such as yourself, so real people, humans, make thier opinions Informed by themselves if they intersted enough to dig. We dont all just read headlines and TROLL, yes YOU, for people in comments just to argue with.
Reply
SonofLiberty 1 hours ago
On what basis do you refuse to recognize that everyone has a right to their own opinion? You don't have to agree with it or even listen to it. If on the other hand, you mean that uninformed opinions (in the view of the moderator) may be filtered out, then you should say what you mean. Write better, write here, please.
Reply
LMW 2 hours ago
And you have the right to tell someone what opinion they can have how?
Reply
johhny danger 2 hours ago
Really?? Not a right to an opinion? Who made you God....ass clown? First thing that came to my mind was....WTF!! They can only predict these 5 days before they hit...nice work. Very valid point....Rob you are more of a troll in my eyes. Troll face!!
Reply
hjh 2 hours ago
He's RIGHT you disgusting moron.
Reply
NeerDoWell 5 hours ago
Well, I guess I am to be impressed that they found it a whole 5 days before its closest moment to us? Or, which seems more likely, 5 days before they finally decided it wasnt a threat so it was ok to tell us. Either way i see all the money being spent, worldwide, is being put to good use.......
Odd.....Do you hear trumpets ?
Reply
prophetjimi 1 hours ago
We are only told of the rocks that are known to be on paths that miss. The ones that DO impact are immediately reported as "earthquakes" "tsunamis" "gas pipe explosions" "sink holes" etc - all in an attempt to play down the impending big hit that'll knock out agriculture. There will be no warning for that event, just millions waking under a black cloud that they're told is some sort of "eruption" or "rogue nuclear explosion."
Gitmo is littered with dissident victim "scientists" who tried to break ranks and blow the whistle. Their reports are concealed by Mogul Control Global Media and they lose their reserved condos in the underground bunker cities.
All "main stream media" worldwide is the same person/corporate board conditioning sheeple for the same scenario, as exposed here:
rockprophecy.com/gang80.html
Reply
2 replies
Charlie 38 minutes ago
Wow!!
Now that is some very heavy thinking. Did you do that all by yourself, or did the voices help you?
Reply
1 replies
Arvada Mark 9 minutes ago
"...heavy thinking."? Try heavy DRINKING.
Reply
FRANK 2 hours ago
86.4 PERCENT OF ALL STATISTICS ARE MADE UP ON THE SPOT
Reply
greg 2 hours ago
Did I look this up right? The asteroid is traveling at close to 24,000 km/hr? I wouldn't want to try to stop that thing.
Reply
ByteRider 2 hours ago
What you are not being told is the percentages.
There is a 38% chance the asteroid could hit the earth and a 62% chance it won't.
The unknowns are how the gravitational effect of the earth will tug on the asteroid. If there is a large tug, there will be a hit. Some scientists predict the tug WILL be large because the placement of Jupiter and Mars are such that they will not help "lighten" the gravitational effect.
If the asteroid hits, it will be above the equater line. Exact place where it will be hit cannot be predicted at this time [should it hit]. Being told it will be the "north pole" is a joke and should raise eye browse with any scientist out there who know that Newtonian physics are not exact at large distances.
Just food for thought...
Dr. B
Reply
Christopher Pickard 4 hours ago
well they would say that
Reply
Alex 4 hours ago
9 meters - no worries, but 30 meters sounds like a Tunguska event. Why such a big range of a size measurement.
Reply
Skip Huffman 5 hours ago
Wow. I wonder how they can be so much more precise in SAE measurements than in Metric. Oh, wait, they aren't, someone just did a clumsy conversion, then put the converted numbers as the main and the metric, ie REAL, measurement in parentheses.
Reply
Zach Day 5 hours ago
So how impressed is everyone that they found it a whole 5 days before its closest point to earth? I know i am! Woohoo Money well spent!
And what a great moderator you have here..to stop thoughtful, fact based comments, obviously only blocked based on a difference of opinion. Is this a Russian or chinese website?
Reply
7 replies
Kentercat 15 minutes ago
As for blocking comments - that's automatic if certain words are used, and there doesn't seem to be too much rhyme or reason to which words. For example, the name of the largest moon of Saturn - that word is considered reason enough to block a comment to "awaiting moderation". Yeah, go figure. It's not like this is a space site or something.
Reply
RobF 3 hours ago
You do not have a right to an opinion.
You have the right to an INFORMED opinion, which you clearly do not possess.
Troll better, troll elsewhere.
Reply
5 replies
Zach Day 1 hours ago
So who is to inform me? Nasa, with thier total lack of information of any near earth objects on thier site? The main stream media, who never covers these occurances in any way, not even to tell me to get out my telescope i might get a show? How about this, not everyone is a blind sheep, such as yourself, so real people, humans, make thier opinions Informed by themselves if they intersted enough to dig. We dont all just read headlines and TROLL, yes YOU, for people in comments just to argue with.
Reply
SonofLiberty 1 hours ago
On what basis do you refuse to recognize that everyone has a right to their own opinion? You don't have to agree with it or even listen to it. If on the other hand, you mean that uninformed opinions (in the view of the moderator) may be filtered out, then you should say what you mean. Write better, write here, please.
Reply
LMW 2 hours ago
And you have the right to tell someone what opinion they can have how?
Reply
johhny danger 2 hours ago
Really?? Not a right to an opinion? Who made you God....ass clown? First thing that came to my mind was....WTF!! They can only predict these 5 days before they hit...nice work. Very valid point....Rob you are more of a troll in my eyes. Troll face!!
Reply
hjh 2 hours ago
He's RIGHT you disgusting moron.
Reply
NeerDoWell 5 hours ago
Well, I guess I am to be impressed that they found it a whole 5 days before its closest moment to us? Or, which seems more likely, 5 days before they finally decided it wasnt a threat so it was ok to tell us. Either way i see all the money being spent, worldwide, is being put to good use.......
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