The asteroid 2005 YU55 in data and radar image

The asteroid 2005 YU55 in data and radar image. Now astronomers have known for many years, the November 8, 2011 end in two ways: either smooth or with a massive global catastrophe that left four miles. crater on the planet, Unleashing 70 meters. Tsunami waves and possibly tens of thousands of victims. The state, they know, starting at 6:28 ET.

Cocktail hour at the exact moment of the present asteroid 2005 YU55, base 1312. (400 m) rock which was discovered six years ago, its closest approach to Earth to do. Calculations astronomers’ (calculated very, very good), we have no fear: the asteroid missed by 201,700 miles. (324,000 km), which sound like much, but cosmic scale continues to be a specific demand – completion of 38,000 miles. (61.000 km) closer than the Moon is upon us. That’s a bit like a speeding car on the road and cut off his property, with wheels on the right – it is not enough to hurt, but enough to make you feel uncomfortable.

NASA‘s Deep Space Network dish at Goldstone, Calif., has captured new radar images of asteroid 2005 YU55 as it begins its journey near the Earth. The picture above was taken on 7 November at 11:45 PT (14:45 EST/1945 UTC), when the asteroid is about 1,380,000 kilometers (860,000 miles) or about 3.6 months away from Earth. Not a great picture, but there must be more photos available on the asteroid. Some telescopes to track an asteroid the size of aircraft carriers in the past. Goldstone 230 meters wide (70 meter) antenna have crush on him since November 4, and Planetary radar observations of Arecibo in Puerto Rico starting on 8 November, when the asteroid will be the best approach to countries on three: 28 PST (18 : 28 EST/1128 GMT). The telescope Slooh live webcast of the flyby on 8 November, 2011. Additional information on the event page Slooh. Follow the latest pictures of asteroids and comets astronomers Human website.

Asteroids are cosmic artifacts dangerous for two reasons. First, many of them. Scientists from the ground close to the observation program (also known as Spaceguard simpler and more descriptive) will keep their eyes 19,500 rocks 100 meters to 1 km (330-3300 meters). These are not the only asteroid that size out there, but also closer to the Earth with – which means that cross or come to our orbit around the Sun.