Celestial NASA Warns Two Asteroids Could Cause Atmospheric Explosion

Bps1691

Veteran Member
The mention of asteroids reminds me of the book Lucifer's Hammer.
Always loved that book. I had read Science Fiction off and on as a kid, but when this came out in 77 my sister loaned me her copy of this and it really kicked off SF for me. I think I bought read and re-read every book that Niven and Pournelle wrote from then on.
 

Burrito

Veteran Member
It missed
Fortunately, CNEOS noted that 2020 FK3 is not in danger of colliding with Earth during its upcoming planet-crossing approach. According to the agency, the asteroid is expected to fly past Earth on April 3 at 3:58 a.m. EDT. During this time, the asteroid will zip past the planet from a distance of 0.02671 astronomical units or around 2.5 million miles away.
 

PanBear

Veteran Member
Due to less air pollution the asteroid 1998 OR2 is visible, wait what oh ****!
EU-H3pbUcAAzIdh

View: https://twitter.com/MananSi76124391/status/1247365015247585280
 

Pinecone

Has No Life - Lives on TB
For a less geeky explanation of what's going on . . . and pictures! LOL


COMET ATLAS MIGHT BE FRAGMENTING: Comet ATLAS (C/2019 Y4), what are you doing? New data from astronomers around the world show that the once-promising comet is beginning to fade. For Karl Battams of the Naval Research Lab in Washington DC, it could be a classic case of "I told you so."


Comet ATLAS on March 28th. Credit: Tim Connolly of Plattsburgh, NY. [More images]​

"Quoting myself from March 15th," says Battams, "'I wouldn't be surprised to see Comet ATLAS start to fade rapidly and possibly even disintegrate before reaching the sun.' I very much hope I’m wrong, but Comet Elenin did something similar several years ago, holding lots of promise and then just… fizzling."

In recent months, Comet ATLAS galvanized astronomers as it fell toward the sun, skyrocketing in brightness like few comets before it. By late May 2020 it promised to rival Venus in the sunset sky. But recent developments belie that possibility.

On April 6th, astronomers Quanzhi Ye of the University of Maryland) and Qicheng Zhang of Caltech reported new images of Comet ATLAS, in which the comet's core appears to be elongating--"as would be expected from a major disruption of the nucleus," they wrote in an Astronomical Telegram.


Images from the 0.6-m Ningbo Education Xinjiang Telescope show a possible fragmentation of ATLAS's core​

"It's possible that this is the beginning of the end," says Battams.

Recent measurements of the comet's position also point to trouble. Battams explains: "The comet's orbit is now being influenced by 'non-gravitational' forces. These forces are the result of gases lifting off the comet nucleus and causing the nucleus to move very slightly in the opposite direction--sort of like a jet engine. Most active comets experience this to some degree, but ATLAS's non-gravitational forces have kicked in very abruptly and are quite strong. This supports a narrative of a small nucleus being pushed very strongly by extreme outgassing, possibly along with fragmentation."

"Finally, let's not forget that ATLAS is a fragment of a larger (unidentified) comet also related to the Great Comet of 1844," says Battams. "Fragmenting is a family trait for these guys."


Is Comet ATLAS doomed? Not necessarily. "The frustrating thing about comets is we often don't know exactly what they're doing or why they're doing it. There's still a chance that Comet ATLAS is just 'taking a breather' before another outburst," says Battams. "But I wouldn't count on it...."
 

jward

passin' thru
Fortunately, CNEOS noted that 2020 FK3 is not in danger of colliding with Earth during its upcoming planet-crossing approach. According to the agency, the asteroid is expected to fly past Earth on April 3 at 3:58 a.m. EDT. During this time, the asteroid will zip past the planet from a distance of 0.02671 astronomical units or around 2.5 million miles away.

So it's over and done with? We're safe? It didn't get us? Well that is a relief, I was worried there for a minute ; )
...unless it's like the DJT news briefs, in which case it may be running late, but still on the schedule :shkr:
 

PanBear

Veteran Member
According to CNEOS, 363599 (2004 FG11) is expected to cross Earth’s path on April 11 at 1:00 pm EDT. During its near-Earth intersection, the asteroid will be about 0.04920 astronomical units from the planet’s center, which is equivalent to around 4.6 million miles away.
 

PanBear

Veteran Member
(fair use)

Asteroid 2020 GH2 is Not The Only Big Space Rock Passing by Earth, Know About Asteroid 1998 OR2, The Size of Mt Everest Which Will Skim Past This Month
Team Latestly
Apr 15, 2020 08:10 PM IST
Asteroids.jpg

Asteroids (Photo Credits: Pixabay)

During the reports of Coronavirus updates coming in from around the world, there is something happening up in the space too. An asteroid 2020 GH2 is approaching close to the earth's orbit. But do not worry, it will pass in between the moon and earth's orbit but poses no danger to the planet. The asteroid 2020 GH2 is almost the size of a house, will make its flyby at 12.45 EDT ie 10.15 PM IST tonight. But this is not the only big space rock that is flying across the planet. Towards the end of this month, an asteroid 1998 OR2, the size of Mt Everest will by flying past the Earth.

The space rock passing by tonight is a newly discovered object which was seen on April 11 first. Researchers and observatories have been tracing its path since then and it will make a flyby from at least 223,000 miles (359,000 kilometers). The size is about between 43 and 70 feet (13-70 meters) wide.

Here's The Path of Asteroid 2020 GH2 Passing Tonight:
Asteroid 2020 GH2 will fly between Earth and moon
Recently discovered asteroid 2020 GH2 will be about 223,000 miles (358,883 km) from Earth on April 15, 2020. The space rock is estimated to be between 13 to 30 meters in diameter (42 to 98 feet).
video 1:02 min - April 14, 2020
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=4&v=wEjtDmdLrDE&feature=emb_logo



Coming to another space rock, the 1998 OR2 has been referenced for a doomsday too. 1998 OR2 is the size of Mt Everest will skim past the Earth on April 29th. And NASA has clarified that there is no such harm from this giant rock. This asteroid is roughly 1.8 and 4.1 kilometres in diameter and remains to be a potentially hazardous category.

Check The Path of Asteroid 1998 OR2:
Have you been hearing about asteroid 1998 OR2’s close approach on April 29? Rest assured that this asteroid will safely pass Earth by 3.9 million miles/6.2 million km. Have other questions about #asteroids and #planetarydefense? Ask them using #askNASA! pic.twitter.com/a3WhttAoED
— NASA Asteroid Watch (@AsteroidWatch) April 14, 2020

In fact, the Virtual Telescope Project in Rome will host a free viewing of the asteroid. So you can be rest assured, you won't watching a rock headed for you! There is no direct risk from asteroid 1998 OR2.

Asteroid 2020 GH2 is Not The Only Big Space Rock Passing by Earth, Know About Asteroid 1998 OR2, The Size of Mt Everest Which Will Skim Past This Month
 

PanBear

Veteran Member
(fair use)

Chinese astronomers discover new asteroid to fly by Earth
Source: Xinhua | 2020-03-03 15:33:30 | Editor: huaxia

1587367300108.png

Orbits of asteroid 2020 DM4 (green), Venus (white), Earth (blue) and Mars (orange). (Diagram provided to Xinhua by the Purple Mountain Observatory)

"2020 DM4 is approaching Earth. We estimate that the closest distance between the asteroid and Earth would be about 7.35 million km. It has some potential threat, but we need not worry about it," said Zhao Haibin, head of the Near-Earth Object Survey Telescope research team at PMO.

BEIJING, March 3 (Xinhua) -- Chinese astronomers recently discovered a new asteroid and predicted that it would fly by Earth in early May.

The asteroid, designated 2020 DM4, was found by the Purple Mountain Observatory (PMO) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences at the end of February.

"2020 DM4 is approaching Earth. We estimate that the closest distance between the asteroid and Earth would be about 7.35 million km. It has some potential threat, but we need not worry about it," said Zhao Haibin, head of the Near-Earth Object Survey Telescope research team at PMO.

Astronomers used the China Near-Earth Object Survey Telescope based in Xuyi, eastern China's Jiangsu Province, to survey in the direction of Leo on the night of Feb. 26, and discovered a dim moving object, whose apparent velocity is quite different from that of a typical main-belt asteroid.

They reported to the International Astronomical Union's Minor Planet Center (MPC) and shared the information with other countries. After that, another eleven telescopes around the globe jointly tracked and monitored the asteroid.

Based on the global observation data, astronomers determined the orbit of 2020 DM4, and the MPC announced the discovery of this potentially hazardous asteroid on Feb. 29.

China joined the International Asteroid Warning Network in February 2018, and the PMO is pushing forward the construction of China's own near-Earth object monitoring, warning and observation network.

However, China's ability in near-Earth object monitoring and warning is still limited. China needs to develop larger telescopes to improve its ability and play a more important role in the field of international asteroid monitoring and early warning, said Zhao.

Chinese astronomers discover new asteroid to fly by Earth
 

PanBear

Veteran Member
Asteroid 1998 OR2 poses no threat to our planet, but we can still learn a lot by studying it. Don't miss a special #planetarydefense episode of NASA Science Live this Mon. 4/27 at 3PM EDT to learn about what #asteroids and near-Earth Objects can teach us: https://nasa.gov/live

NASA Live - April 27, Monday 3 p.m.
NASA Science Live: Asteroid Close Approach (Public Channel)
NASA Live
video 2:19
View: https://twitter.com/AsteroidWatch/status/1253680937663152128

or
 

PanBear

Veteran Member
Tiny #asteroid 2020 HS7 will safely pass Earth just before 3pm EDT today at a distance of about 23,000 miles/36,400 km. 2020 HS7 poses no danger to our planet, and small asteroids of this size safely pass by Earth a few times per month. #planetarydefense

Tiny #asteroids like 2020 HS7 (4-6 meters in diameter) are small enough that if they were on a collision course with Earth, they would disintegrate in our atmosphere. Our #planetarydefense experts are always watching the skies to safeguard Earth from future potential threats.
View: https://twitter.com/i/status/1255163529126125568
 
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PanBear

Veteran Member
Meteor captured by Israel Borja Nuñel Timiraos
6:45 am, April 28, 2020 from A Coruña, Spain
video 40 sec
View: https://twitter.com/Canaan_1983/status/1255035545648062464


now we know what it is ....

This is the reentry, last night at 4:45 UT (6:45 local Spanish time), of the Russian Soyuz rocket Upper Stage that launched the Progress MS-14 cargoship to the International Space Station on April 25. Time and general location match the CSpOC TIP message for this reentry.
View: https://twitter.com/Marco_Langbroek/status/1255074611332513793
 

PanBear

Veteran Member
thread/1
So, as if 2020 wasn’t a wild enough ride yet, this just happened..
video 47 sec

thread /2
Asteroid #1998OR2 as seen by the Arecibo observatory
2 km in diameter / rotating once every 4.1 hours
gif

thread/3
Asteroid #1998OR2
video 1:03 min
View: https://twitter.com/kittylaroar/status/1255450660167921666

end thread /4
At ~2km across #1998OR2 is one of the largest potentially hazardous asteroids known to exist
This video was taken last night by Willie Koorts
Stay safe out there you lovely people
video 11 sec
View: https://twitter.com/kittylaroar/status/1255450660167921666
 

PanBear

Veteran Member
Asteriods:
2020 JE2
2020 HG9
2020 KA

(Fair Use)
Two asteroids to approach Earth on Monday, one of them BIGGER than STATUE OF LIBERTY — RT World News
by RT Published May 18, 2020
Two-asteroids-to-approach-Earth-on-Monday-one-of-them.jpg

Just in case anyone was getting too comfy, NASA’s Center for Near-Earth Object Studies is warning that two asteroids are heading towards Earth this Monday. Another one is expected to come close to us early on Tuesday.

All three of the near-Earth asteroids are expected to make close approaches at some point between Monday May 18 and Tuesday May 19, at speeds of between 13,000 and 31,000 miles per hour.

The first of the week’s incoming asteroids, 2020 JE2, boasts a diameter of 56 feet, or the equivalent of two London buses one in front of the other, and will fly past us at roughly 2:19 pm EDT, at a mercifully safe distance of 524,000 miles away, or twice the distance between the Earth and the Moon.

Less than an hour later, 2020 HG9, the biggest of the three, surpassing the Statue of Liberty (that is, 305 feet, one inch in height), will shoot past us, not coming within 3.7 million miles of Earth.

Last, but not least, the 66-foot-wide 2020 KA will bring up the rear early on Tuesday, at a relatively paltry 13,000 miles per hour, but at a safe distance of 476,000 miles. The space rock measures over three times the size of George Washington’s nose on the world-famous Mount Rushmore statue.

Rather worryingly, these space-bound behemoths were first observed only on April 28 2020 (2020 HG9) and in mid-May (2020 JE2, 2020 KA), so, while our planetary early warning systems did manage to spot them ahead of time, today’s triple flyby is yet another reminder of the seemingly never-ending onslaught of space debris that bombards our cosmic backyard.
 
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