ASTEROID FLYBY: 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.
Related Videos
The mission would measure: * Atmospheric density, temperature and pressure as functions of altitude, latitude and time. * Definition of the planetary ...
We have heard about them - we have seen them and some have hit the earth just recently. When is the next one coming, and will it be big enough to wipe...
Next object is anticipated to arrive in the period of 2029 - 2037, when a major Asteroid called Apophis is prognosed to become a near earth object.Pri...
Asteroid impact craters are interesting geological structures on any planet in our universe. Many other planets and moons in our solar system, includi...
