An asteroid measuring between 30 feet and 100 feet is set to pass Earth on October 12 at a distance of 27,000 miles—about an eighth of the distance to the Moon. This makes it one of the largest close approach asteroids to brush past Earth this year, and presents NASA with a valuable opportunity: To test out NASA's planetary defense systems.
The asteroid, named TC4, was discovered in 2012 and scientists have been tracking it ever since—until recently, it was thought TC4 could come within 4,200 miles from Earth’s surface.
However, scientists at the European Space Agency have now made the first direct observations of the object. These new views of the asteroid have allowed experts at NASA’s Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) to refine its orbit and the distance at which it will make its closest approach. The asteroid is currently travelling at a speed of 30,000mph and while it appears very dim at the moment, it will get brighter as it gets closer.
The space agency, along with astronomers from the International Asteroid Warning Network, are currently planning to use TC4 as an exercise to test out the “recovery, characterization and reporting” of a potentially hazardous object approaching Earth—it allows them to try out the planetary defense systems they have been developing over the last few years.
Scientists plan to test a network of observatories that have been set up as an asteroid warning system—being able to try this out on an asteroid that is coming so close to Earth will allow them to refine the network and the techniques used to track near Earth objects.
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| This illustration provided by NASA depicts the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft and the Earth. On Friday, Sept. 22, 2017, the probe will use Earth's gravity to put it on a path toward the asteroid Bennu (© Conceptual Image Lab/Goddard Space Flight Center/NASA via AP) |
However, scientists at the European Space Agency have now made the first direct observations of the object. These new views of the asteroid have allowed experts at NASA’s Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) to refine its orbit and the distance at which it will make its closest approach. The asteroid is currently travelling at a speed of 30,000mph and while it appears very dim at the moment, it will get brighter as it gets closer.
The space agency, along with astronomers from the International Asteroid Warning Network, are currently planning to use TC4 as an exercise to test out the “recovery, characterization and reporting” of a potentially hazardous object approaching Earth—it allows them to try out the planetary defense systems they have been developing over the last few years.
Scientists plan to test a network of observatories that have been set up as an asteroid warning system—being able to try this out on an asteroid that is coming so close to Earth will allow them to refine the network and the techniques used to track near Earth objects.
Read More: Other world news articles
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