International Shia News Agency

abc.net/ Mountain-sized asteroid shaves by Earth in event not to be seen for another decade

SHAFAQNA (International Shia News Association)- The asteroid, known as 2004 BL86, runs no risk of a colliding with Earth and will be about three times farther than the Moon when it passes.

At the time of its closest approach, the asteroid will be about 1.2 million kilometres from Earth.

Unlike other asteroids, 2004 BL86 measures half a kilometre across, whereas the majority of near-Earth objects are 15 to 30 meters in diameter.

“It’s the largest known space rock predicted to come this close to us until 2027,” Sky and Telescope magazine reported.

The next large asteroid that is known to be making a close approach to Earth will be asteroid 1999 AN10, flying past in 2027.

Astronomers were excited for the opportunity to catch a glimpse of 2004 BL86, a mysterious asteroid that will not pass by again for about 200 years.

“At present, we know almost nothing about the asteroid, so there are bound to be surprises,” said radar astronomer Lance Benner of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

“When we get our radar data back the day after the flyby, we will have the first detailed images.”

NASA said the asteroid would not be visible to the naked eye, but could be seen with the help of small telescopes and strong binoculars.

The asteroid was visible last night, and this morning will be near Jupiter, one of the brightest objects in the night sky.

The asteroid orbits the Sun every 1.84 years, and was discovered 11 years ago by the LINEAR telescope in New Mexico.

By using observations via telescope and radar mapping by NASA scientists at facilities in California and Puerto Rico, astronomers were hoping to discover how fast the asteroid spins and learn more about its size, shape and surface.

“Asteroids are something special,” said Don Yeomans, retired manager of NASA’s Near Earth Object Program Office at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California.

“Not only did asteroids provide Earth with the building blocks of life and much of its water, but in the future, they will become valuable resources for mineral ores and other vital natural resources.

“They will also become the fuelling stops for humanity as we continue to explore our solar system. There is something about asteroids that makes me want to look up.”

 

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