Asteroid Too Close for Comfort

Written by The Night Sky Guy on February 15, 2013 – 12:14 am -

2012DA141-590x444In a rare cosmic encounter, an asteroid will buzz Earth this Friday, missing our planet by a mere 17,200 miles (27,700 kilometers). Designated 2012 DA14, the space rock is approximately 150 feet (45 meters) across, and astronomers are certain it will zip harmlessly past our planet—but not before making history. It will pass within the orbits of many communications satellites, making it the closest flyby on record.

For more information on what this asteroid pass means for us Earthlings check out my story at National Geographic.

Here is my Weather Network spot on the asteroid flyby.


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Posted in Meteors, Planets, Solar System | 4 Comments »


4 Responses to “Asteroid Too Close for Comfort”

  1. By D Walker on Feb 15, 2013 | Reply

    Any connection to the meteor that hit Russia today?

  2. By Gordon Doctor on Feb 15, 2013 | Reply

    It shows what can be waiting and ready to surprise us, as KEF -2013 did to Russian citizens today. Somehow we don’t feel threatend ….will wait for it. :0)

  3. By David on Feb 15, 2013 | Reply

    That’s the closest flyby that we are being told about, and that’s only because so many observers may see it,otherwise our government would not tell us!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  4. By The Night Sky Guy on Feb 15, 2013 | Reply

    The two events are totally unrelated. The Russian meteor came in from the north while asteroid DA14 approached Earth from the Southern Hemisphere. This indicates they originated from different parts of the solar system.

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