An asteroid about the size of the width of a football field was discovered by the Virtual Telescope Project based in Italy. Space object with a width of 330 feet (100 meters) will reach its closest point to Earth at a distance of 960 thousand kilometers.
Reported Nbcnews, (03/07/2013), asteroid (2013 ET) is likely to pass the Earth on Saturday (9/3). Reportedly, a football field-sized asteroid is approaching Earth after asteroid with a width of 10 meters (2013 EC) reach the closest distance to Earth at 370 thousand miles on early Monday.
2013 ET code-named Asteroid will pass Earth at a distance equal to 2.5 times the distance between Earth with the Moon. Thus, it would be too vague and distant to be observed in the night sky.
However, the Virtual Telescope Project which is located in Italy will provide the video webcast or a direct view to observing the space rock. You can access the video webcast through this link.
Astronomers say the asteroid will not have an impact hazard to Earth. Asteroid 2013 ET is the same as asteroid 2013 EC that does not pose a threat to Earth.
Astronomers estimate that the number of near-Earth asteroids reaches up to 1 million. However, only 9700 have been found to date.
Astromom also revealed that the object was not detected could have struck Earth without warning. As was the case on February 15, 2013, in which a meteor explosion caused thousands of Russian population exposed to injuries from broken glass resulting shock wave.
NASA scientists have identified and mapped the orbit of 980 near-Earth asteroids, which have a size of at least 1 kilometer wide. Asteroids are believed to have struck the Earth 65 million years ago and caused the extinction of ancient animals, dinosaurs.
0 comments:
Post a Comment