A giant asteroid will only just miss earth later this year, according to NASA.
The huge rock, dubbed YU55, will pass within 201,700 miles of our planet in November.
If it crashes into earth the impact would be equivalent to 65,000 atomic bombs, while the crater would be six miles wide and 2,000 ft deep.
The asteroid, which weighs 55 million tons and is 1,300ft wide, will be the largest ever object to get so close to our planet. It orbits the sun every 14 months.
t will be closer to us than the moon, which is on average 238,855 miles away and will be visible through a small telescope.
The best times to view it will be between 23:28 on 8 November and 07:13 on 9 November (UK time).
According to NASA spokesman Dave Yeomans, there is no chance YU55 will crash into earth… for the time being. He said in statement: “YU55 poses no threat of an Earth collision over, at the very least, the next 100 years.”
He added: “During its closest approach, its gravitational effect on the Earth will be so minuscule as to be immeasurable. It will not affect the tides or anything else.”
Nonetheless, it has been officially labeled a ‘potentially hazardous object’ by the space agency.
YU55 was discovered by Robert McMillan, head of the NASA-funded Spacewatch Program at the University of Arizona in 2005, but it’s not the only ‘near-earth object’ they are monitoring.
NASA are also keeping tabs on WN5, an asteroid that will pass the planet in 2028, and ‘99942 Apophis’, a celestial body measuring 1,200 ft which could zoom past us on April 13 2036.
They also believe an even bigger asteroid has a one-in-a-thousand chance of colliding with earth in 2182.
http://www.usdailyinsights.info/wp-c...uj-300x225.jpg
Asteroid to narrowly miss Earth
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06-05-11, 06:55DoozerAsteroid to narrowly miss Earth
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06-05-11, 06:59magicalman9357
I am not at all scientifically minded and I do wonder how they can be so sure it will miss earth. :)
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06-05-11, 07:02DoozerA lot of maths involved MM, plotting trajectories etc.Quote:
Originally Posted by magicalman9357
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06-05-11, 07:04magicalman9357Lots of maths indeed Doozer and yes the word 'narrowly' does keep it well covered. lol :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Doozer
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06-05-11, 07:12Doozer
We should actually be hit more with asteroids but the planet Jupiter usually changes their fligt path due to its gravational pull and usually slingshots them into the sun. But every once and a while we get a near miss.
Interestingly enough there is supposed to be a series of asteroids that collied with the earth every few million years that erradicates all life on Earth (Like the Dino asteroid) This gave rise to the theory that we actually have an undiscovered Sun in our solar system which throws these rocks at us. -
06-05-11, 18:13Mousey
I can protect the Earth against sort of thing with my Death Ball.
http://icanhascheezburger.files.word...ar-hamster.jpg -
06-05-11, 18:15Alec HoranHa ! you finally admit to being a Hamster......you schmuck !!!!!!Quote:
Originally Posted by Mousey
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06-05-11, 18:25MouseyWhat are you talking about, fuckface, that's clearly a Mousey!!Quote:
Originally Posted by Alec Horan
Oh, and welcome back :D -
06-05-11, 18:28Alec Horanits a freaking hamster ya freakin nobrain gobshite !!!!!!!!!!!Quote:
Originally Posted by Mousey
Thanks.....good to be back -
06-05-11, 20:44ladiesman217Sorry Mousey, but I gotta agree with Alec on this one :rolleyes:Quote:
Originally Posted by Mousey