2012 DA14......
2012 DA14 is a near-Earth asteroid with an estimated diameter of 50 meters (160 ft) and an estimated mass of 190,000 metric tons. It was discovered on February 23, 2012, by the Observatorio Astronómico de La Sagra, Granada in Spain seven days after passing 0.0174 AU (2,600,000 km; 1,620,000 mi) from Earth. Calculations show that on February 15, 2013, the distance between the asteroid and the center-point of Earth will be 0.0002276 AU (34,050 km; 21,160 mi). The asteroid will pass 27,700 km (17,200 mi) from the surface of Earth.This is a record close approach for a known object of this size.
Asteroid 2012 DA14, as it’s called, is too small to see with the naked eye even at its closest approach around 7.25 p.m. GMT (12.55 a.m. IST, Saturday), over the Indian Ocean near Sumatra.The best viewing locations, with binoculars and telescopes, are in Asia, Australia and eastern Europe. Even there, all anyone can see is a pinpoint of light as the asteroid zooms by at 28,000 kmph. As asteroids go, DA14 is a shrimp. The one that wiped out the dinosaurs 65 million years ago was about 10 km across. But this rock could still do immense damage if it struck, releasing the energy equivalent of 2.4 million tonnes of TNT and wiping out 1,950 sq. km.Scientists are certain it won’t impact Earth. And chances are extremely remote it will run into any of the satellites orbiting 36,000 km up. Most of the solar system’s asteroids are situated in a belt between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter, and remain stable there for billions of years. Some occasionally pop out, though, into Earth’s neighborhood.The flyby provides a rare learning opportunity for scientists eager to keep future asteroids at bay and a prime-time advertisement for those anxious to step up preventive measures.
Asteroid 2012 DA14, as it’s called, is too small to see with the naked eye even at its closest approach around 7.25 p.m. GMT (12.55 a.m. IST, Saturday), over the Indian Ocean near Sumatra.The best viewing locations, with binoculars and telescopes, are in Asia, Australia and eastern Europe. Even there, all anyone can see is a pinpoint of light as the asteroid zooms by at 28,000 kmph. As asteroids go, DA14 is a shrimp. The one that wiped out the dinosaurs 65 million years ago was about 10 km across. But this rock could still do immense damage if it struck, releasing the energy equivalent of 2.4 million tonnes of TNT and wiping out 1,950 sq. km.Scientists are certain it won’t impact Earth. And chances are extremely remote it will run into any of the satellites orbiting 36,000 km up. Most of the solar system’s asteroids are situated in a belt between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter, and remain stable there for billions of years. Some occasionally pop out, though, into Earth’s neighborhood.The flyby provides a rare learning opportunity for scientists eager to keep future asteroids at bay and a prime-time advertisement for those anxious to step up preventive measures.
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