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Is this some precursor to When Worlds Collide . . . or Not?![]()
Near-Earth asteroid 2011 MD will pass only 12,000 kilometers (7,500 miles) above the Earth's surface on Monday June 27 at about 9:30 EDT. The asteroid was discovered by the LINEAR near-Earth object discovery team observing from Socorro, New Mexico. The diagram on the left shows the trajectory of 2011 MD projected onto the Earth's orbital plane over a four-day interval. The diagram on the left gives another view from the general direction of the Sun that indicates that 2011 MD will reach its closest Earth approach point in extreme southern latitudes (in fact over the southern Atlantic Ocean). This small asteroid, only 5-20 meters in diameter, is in a very Earth-like orbit about the Sun, but an orbital analysis indicates there is no chance it will actually strike Earth on Monday. The incoming trajectory leg passes several thousand kilometers outside the geosynchronous ring of satellites and the outgoing leg passes well inside the ring. One would expect an object of this size to come this close to Earth about every 6 years on average. For a brief time, it will be bright enough to be seen even with a modest-sized telescope.
Don Yeomans & Paul Chodas
NASA/JPL Near-Earth Object Program Office
June 23, 2011
http://neo.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news172.html
Newly-discovered asteroid 2011 MD will pass only 12,000 kilometers (7,500 miles) above Earth’s surface on Monday June 27 at about 9:30 a.m. EDT. NASA analysts say there is no chance the space rock will strike Earth. Nevertheless, the encounter is so close that Earth’s gravity will sharply alter the asteroid’s trajectory.
At closest approach, 2011 MD will pass in broad daylight over the southern Atlantic Ocean near the coast of Antarctica. As the asteroid recedes from Earth, it will pass through the zone of geosynchronous satellites. The chances of a collision with a satellite or manmade space junk are extremely small, albeit not zero.
Judging from the brightness of the asteroid, it measures only 5 to 20 meters in diameter. According to JPL’s Near Earth Object Program office, one would expect an object of this size to come this close to Earth about every 6 years on average. For a brief time, it will be bright enough to be seen even with a medium-sized backyard telescope.
http://wattsupwiththat.com/2011/06/24/something-more-worrisome-than-global-warming/
One thing about that story that raised my eyebrows. It said that stony asteroids of the size that will miss us usually break up in the atmosphere and don't bother anyone. But what about the nickel iron ones? Ten feet across? The size of a Volkswagen Beetle? Isn't that the size the dug Meteor Crater Arizona?
One thing about that story that raised my eyebrows. It said that stony asteroids of the size that will miss us usually break up in the atmosphere and don't bother anyone. But what about the nickel iron ones? Ten feet across? The size of a Volkswagen Beetle? Isn't that the size the dug Meteor Crater Arizona?
I did my best Claudette Colbert imitation as it went past...So, did everyone wave as it went by?![]()
I did my best Claudette Colbert imitation as it went past...
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CpjG9enu18k/TRJwPSwZOZI/AAAAAAAAAVA/4CkuvGZmPYE/s1600/Claudette_Colbert_in_It_Happened_One_Night.jpg
....but it just kept goingLooks like I'm stuck here till the next one goes by....
I did my best Claudette Colbert imitation as it went past...
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CpjG9enu18k/TRJwPSwZOZI/AAAAAAAAAVA/4CkuvGZmPYE/s1600/Claudette_Colbert_in_It_Happened_One_Night.jpg
....but it just kept goingLooks like I'm stuck here till the next one goes by....
I did my best Claudette Colbert imitation as it went past...
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CpjG9enu18k/TRJwPSwZOZI/AAAAAAAAAVA/4CkuvGZmPYE/s1600/Claudette_Colbert_in_It_Happened_One_Night.jpg
....but it just kept goingLooks like I'm stuck here till the next one goes by....
Don't feel like you've been snubbed, 3113. It was only a "near-Earth" asteroid. You'll have to wait for one to come in from the Kuiper Belt for it to be old enough to even know who Claudette Colbert is.
I'm only 35, and I have seen "It Happened One Night", the movie that screen capture is from.![]()
Yeah, don't brag. I've seen a few talkies, too.