[This page will be updated as new information becomes available. Stay tuned.]
UPDATE - 2:27 p.m. - Friday - Asteroid 2012 DA14 has reached its closest approach to Earth and is now moving away from the planet. U.S. observatories are now preparing to observe DA14 later tonight.
12:18 p.m. - Friday - LIVE VIDEO of asteroid 2012 DA14 from Samford Valley Observatory, Brisbane, Australia.
An asteroid about half the size of a football field will pass very close to the Earth on Feb. 15, coming within 17,150 miles of the surface, NASA announced on Monday. The object will pass closer to Earth than some man-made satellites orbiting our planet, “but there's really no chance of the asteroid hitting the Earth and very little change it will hit a satellite,” the space agency said.
The asteroid was discovered by a group of Spanish astronomers at the La Sagra observatory in southern Spain. As with most asteroids, they have some interesting names. This one is called 2012 DA14.
An object about the same size as DA14 actually impacted the Earth on June 30, 1908, known as the "Tunguska event." The asteroid came down in the Earth's atmosphere and exploded leveling trees for 820 square miles.
”The close approach of this object 2012 DA14 on Feb 15 is nothing to worry about,” NASA scientists say. “Its orbit is very well known. We know exactly where it's going to go and it cannot hit the Earth.”
Stay tuned to this page for updates leading up to closet approach on Feb. 15 at 2:25 p.m. EST.
Schedule of Events - Friday Feb. 15 (all times EST)
- 1 p.m. to 1 a.m. - Chabot Space & Science Center (in California) is hosting an asteroid viewing party with extra telescopes set out on the observatory deck along with scientists and astronomers answering questions and leading viewing activity. Chabot's astronomers will attempt to track DA14 from the center's own 36-inch reflector telescope, Nellie.
- 2 - 2:30 p.m. - NASA Television will provide commentary during the close, but safe, flyby of DA14.
- 2:25 p.m. - Asteroid 2012 DA14 closest approach to Earth, 17,150 miles.
- 5:48 p.m. - Sunset in Washington, D.C. area.
- 6 p.m. to 4 a.m. - Weather permitting, high-definition video of the asteroid crossing the stars will be streamed from the Clay Center Observatory in Brookline, Ma.
- 9 p.m. to midnight - Video of asteroid flyby from a telescope at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala.
- 11:45 p.m. - Moonset in Washington, D.C. area.
Online Resources:
- YouTube: Asteroid 2012 DA14 Flight Path
- YouTube: 2012 DA14 Asteroid close approach
- Visual SAT-Flare Tracker 3D
[This page will be updated as new information becomes available. Stay tuned.]
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