Mystery object to pass by Earth

[Abyssdnb Profile]

DID ANYONE END UP SEEING ANYTHING??? IT HAPPEND ON WEDNESDAY!!!


A mystery object from space is about to whizz close by Earth on Wednesday. It won't hit our planet, but scientists are stumped by what exactly it is.

Astronomers say it may be space junk or it could be a tiny asteroid, too small to cause damage even if it hit. It's 33 to 50 feet wide at most.

NASA says that on Wednesday at 7:47 a.m. EST, it will streak by, missing Earth by about 80,000 miles. In the western United States it may be bright enough to be seen with a good amateur telescope.

[Demolektron Profile]

http://www.skyandtelescope.com/news/wir ... 905936&c=y

[Demolektron Profile]

something to do with the earthquake?

[Dirttyrabbit Profile]

Asteroid Caught on Film
http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2010/ ... t-on-film/

http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2009/ ... -to-earth/
January 13, 2010
image animated sorry to large to post-> http://www.wired.com/images_blogs/wiredscience/2010/01/asteroid.gif
A team of astronomers from Italy captured images of the asteroid that passed by Earth Wednesday at a distance one-third that between the Earth and the moon.

The rock, between 30 and 50 feet across, was not in danger of striking the planet and probably would have burned up in the atmosphere before hitting Earth’s surface, if it had headed our way. The asteroid, dubbed 2010 AL30 was first spotted and announced Monday. It is the closest encounter Earth will have with any known object until 2024.

In 2029 an asteroid known as Apophis will come closer, only one-third the distance of Wednesday’s asteroid to the Earth. The chances that this pass will send the asteroid through a “keyhole” that would then cause it to come back around and hit Earth in 2036 are currently estimated to be just one in 233,000. But Apophis is still the subject of a lot of discussion, and Russia has announced it is making plans to deflect it.




See Also:

* Earth to Get Close Shave Wednesday From Newly Discovered Asteroid
* Video: The Asteroid That Will Almost Hit Earth
* To Deflect an Asteroid, Try a Lasso, Not a Nuke
* Saving Earth From an Asteroid Will Take Diplomats, Not Heroes
* The Real Twitpocalypse: Asteroid Alerts Come to Twitter
* How to Defend Earth Against an Asteroid Strike
* First-Ever Asteroid Tracked From Space to Earth

Russia Plans to Save Earth From Rogue Asteroid; ‘No Nuclear Explosions,’ Space Chief Promises (Updated)
http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2009/12 ... -promises/