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Asteroid Due for Close Approach

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the ka-FOOOM dept.

mernil writes "BBC Reports "A giant space rock was set to whizz past the Earth on Monday under the close scrutiny of astronomers. The mountain-sized object had been classed as a "potentially hazardous asteroid", but scientists say there was no danger of a collision with Earth. [...] At this time calculations suggested it would be about 268,873 miles (432,709km) from the Earth, only 1.1 times the planet's distance from the Moon."

5 of 42 comments (clear)

  1. Already Passed. by sglider · · Score: 5, Informative

    This, as Adam Sandler would say, is news that would have been better if it had been brought to my attention yesterday!!!!!.

    The article from CNN talks about it already whizzing past.

    --
    War isn't about who's right. It's about who's left.
  2. Bit late .... by stuckinarut · · Score: 3, Informative

    The asteroid has already passed at 04:44 GMT across North America

  3. Scale map by linvir · · Score: 5, Informative

    I've tried to knock together a bit of a scale map to help visualise some of the proportions.

  4. By Larry Niven by PIPBoy3000 · · Score: 3, Informative

    I almost rated this as "off topic" until I realized it was a reference to Footfall, by Larry Niven. It refers to showing submission so that agressive actions stop. Strangely put, but at least I understand the post now.

  5. Map Of Close Nearby Asteroids by szyzyg · · Score: 5, Informative

    Back when I used to call myself an astronomer I coded up this map which shows the releative postitions of all asteroids in the vicinity of the earth. If you've ever played the classic video game 'Elite' then you won't have any trouble understanding the map.