Scientists Eye Nearby Asteroid
Associated Press
Copyright 2000
Nov. 6, 2000 — After making more measurements on a menacing space rock, scientists have downgraded the threat it poses to Earth, according to a statement issued by the International Astronomical Union.
When scientists first spotted the object, which is either a small asteroid or a piece of space junk, they calculated it had a 1-in-500 chance of hitting the Earth in 30 years, far greater odds than any similar object ever discovered.
But further observations made on Nov. 3 by astronomer Carl Hergenrother ruled out the possibility that the object would hit Earth in 2030.
We're not out of the woods yet, however. While downplaying the risk of a 2030 impact, Hergenrother's calculations increased the chance that the object would hit Earth afterwards, according to the International Astronomical Union.
If it is an asteroid and it hits the planet, "it would be equivalent to a fairly sizable nuclear blast," said Donald Yeomans, manager of the Near-Earth Object Program Office at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. For now, though, that is "fairly low in terms of concern," he said.
The object, designated 2000 SG344, is believed to be 98 to 230 feet long. It was discovered Sept. 29 through a telescope in Hawaii.
The original chance of a collision was about a thousand times greater than for any other asteroid-like object yet discovered, said Paul Chodas, principal engineer of the NASA office.
More observations are needed to pin down the object's size; right now, it's just a bright spot in space. But if it turns out to be an asteroid, more than 23,000 tons of rocks could come hurtling through the atmosphere.
The orbit — circular, close to the sun and in about the same plane as Earth's — is unusual for an asteroid, leading to suspicions that it might be a used rocket stage, possibly one jettisoned from an Apollo launch in the 1970s, scientists said.
In that case, the object would have much less mass and would not pose any danger to Earth because it would burn up in the atmosphere.
The object is about 8.4 million miles from Earth.
The object's discovery is the product of an asteroid-hunting program that found more than 8,600 more benign objects in September alone.
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I believe in happily ever afters - I just have to find mine.
Associated Press
Copyright 2000
Nov. 6, 2000 — After making more measurements on a menacing space rock, scientists have downgraded the threat it poses to Earth, according to a statement issued by the International Astronomical Union.
When scientists first spotted the object, which is either a small asteroid or a piece of space junk, they calculated it had a 1-in-500 chance of hitting the Earth in 30 years, far greater odds than any similar object ever discovered.
But further observations made on Nov. 3 by astronomer Carl Hergenrother ruled out the possibility that the object would hit Earth in 2030.
We're not out of the woods yet, however. While downplaying the risk of a 2030 impact, Hergenrother's calculations increased the chance that the object would hit Earth afterwards, according to the International Astronomical Union.
If it is an asteroid and it hits the planet, "it would be equivalent to a fairly sizable nuclear blast," said Donald Yeomans, manager of the Near-Earth Object Program Office at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. For now, though, that is "fairly low in terms of concern," he said.
The object, designated 2000 SG344, is believed to be 98 to 230 feet long. It was discovered Sept. 29 through a telescope in Hawaii.
The original chance of a collision was about a thousand times greater than for any other asteroid-like object yet discovered, said Paul Chodas, principal engineer of the NASA office.
More observations are needed to pin down the object's size; right now, it's just a bright spot in space. But if it turns out to be an asteroid, more than 23,000 tons of rocks could come hurtling through the atmosphere.
The orbit — circular, close to the sun and in about the same plane as Earth's — is unusual for an asteroid, leading to suspicions that it might be a used rocket stage, possibly one jettisoned from an Apollo launch in the 1970s, scientists said.
In that case, the object would have much less mass and would not pose any danger to Earth because it would burn up in the atmosphere.
The object is about 8.4 million miles from Earth.
The object's discovery is the product of an asteroid-hunting program that found more than 8,600 more benign objects in September alone.
----------------------------
I believe in happily ever afters - I just have to find mine.