Asteroid to pass close to Earth
By Eric Athas/ Daily News Correspondent
Sunday, July 2, 2006
An asteroid that could be a quarter mile wide is expected to pass Earth early tomorrow morning, and could be the largest to ever approach our planet, one scientist said.
The asteroid will be 268,624 miles away when it passes Earth -- roughly the same distance between the moon and Earth, according to Space.com.
"There's absolutely no danger, and it's nothing to worry about," said Brian Marsden, director of the Minor Planet Center in Cambridge, which classified the asteroid as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid." Marsden said this asteroid may be the largest ever to come this close to Earth.
The asteroid was discovered in 2004 by Lexington-based Lincoln Laboratory Near Earth Asteroid Research (LINEAR), which used a telescope in Mexico to find the rock. LINEAR then reported the finding to Marsden.
"By the end of December 2004, we knew it would pass Earth at this time," said Marsden. "It will be important for us to observe it, so we can obtain more data and make more determinations for the future."
The asteroid, which is designated as 2004 XP14, is scheduled to pass Earth at 12:25 a.m. tomorrow, and will be most visible on the West Coast.
"This type of thing happens about every two years," said Tom Whitney, president of the Amherst Astronomy Association. Whitney said it's possible to catch a glimpse of the asteroid, but a large telescope and clear skies are needed.
"You'd have to know exactly where the asteroid is to be able to see it," he said. "It would be like trying to find someone in Times Square, if you know where that person is, you would be able to see them."
While the exact size of the rock is unknown, Space.com says scientists estimate its diameter could be anywhere between 1,345 and 3,018 feet. Astronomers will be able to obtain a more accurate measurement using radar when it passes.
While the proximity of 2004 XP14 may be historical, another asteroid scheduled to pass Earth in 2029 could come as close as 20,000 miles, said Marsden.
"We get things coming closer to us than the moon a few times a month, but not this size," said Marsden.
By Eric Athas/ Daily News Correspondent
Sunday, July 2, 2006
An asteroid that could be a quarter mile wide is expected to pass Earth early tomorrow morning, and could be the largest to ever approach our planet, one scientist said.
The asteroid will be 268,624 miles away when it passes Earth -- roughly the same distance between the moon and Earth, according to Space.com.
"There's absolutely no danger, and it's nothing to worry about," said Brian Marsden, director of the Minor Planet Center in Cambridge, which classified the asteroid as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid." Marsden said this asteroid may be the largest ever to come this close to Earth.
The asteroid was discovered in 2004 by Lexington-based Lincoln Laboratory Near Earth Asteroid Research (LINEAR), which used a telescope in Mexico to find the rock. LINEAR then reported the finding to Marsden.
"By the end of December 2004, we knew it would pass Earth at this time," said Marsden. "It will be important for us to observe it, so we can obtain more data and make more determinations for the future."
The asteroid, which is designated as 2004 XP14, is scheduled to pass Earth at 12:25 a.m. tomorrow, and will be most visible on the West Coast.
"This type of thing happens about every two years," said Tom Whitney, president of the Amherst Astronomy Association. Whitney said it's possible to catch a glimpse of the asteroid, but a large telescope and clear skies are needed.
"You'd have to know exactly where the asteroid is to be able to see it," he said. "It would be like trying to find someone in Times Square, if you know where that person is, you would be able to see them."
While the exact size of the rock is unknown, Space.com says scientists estimate its diameter could be anywhere between 1,345 and 3,018 feet. Astronomers will be able to obtain a more accurate measurement using radar when it passes.
While the proximity of 2004 XP14 may be historical, another asteroid scheduled to pass Earth in 2029 could come as close as 20,000 miles, said Marsden.
"We get things coming closer to us than the moon a few times a month, but not this size," said Marsden.
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