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Largest asteroid in a century to whiz by Sept 1
Topic Started: 31 Aug 2017, 01:29 AM (82 Views)
skibboy
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30 August 2017

Largest asteroid in a century to whiz by Sept 1

Posted Image
© AFP/File | The largest asteroid in more than a century will whiz safely past Earth on September 1 at a safe but unusually close distance of about 4.4 million miles (7 million kilometers), NASA said

MIAMI (AFP) - The largest asteroid in more than a century will whiz safely past Earth on September 1 at a safe but unusually close distance of about 4.4 million miles (7 million kilometers), NASA said.

The asteroid was discovered in 1981, and is named Florence after the famed 19th century founder of modern nursing, Florence Nightingale.

"Florence is the largest asteroid to pass this close to our planet since the first near-Earth asteroid was discovered over a century ago," said a US space agency statement.

It is one of the biggest asteroids in the Earth's vicinity, and measures about 2.7 miles (4.4 kilometers) wide -- or about the size of 30 Egyptian pyramids stuck together.

"While many known asteroids have passed by closer to Earth than Florence will on September 1, all of those were estimated to be smaller," said Paul Chodas, manager of NASA's Center for Near-Earth Object Studies.

Scientists plan to study the asteroid up close when it passes, using ground-based radar imaging in California and Puerto Rico.

"The resulting radar images will show the real size of Florence and also could reveal surface details as small as about 30 feet (10 meters)," said NASA.

This pass will be Florence's closest "since 1890 and the closest it will ever be until after 2500," added the US space agency.

Asteroids are small, natural rocky bodies that orbit the Sun.

Large asteroid collisions with Earth are rare.

A car-sized asteroid hits Earth's atmosphere about once a year and burns up before reaching the surface.

"About every 2,000 years or so, a meteoroid the size of a football field hits Earth and causes significant damage to the area," said NASA.

"Finally, only once every few million years, an object large enough to threaten Earth's civilization comes along."

Scientists are confident that Florence will not be one of them.

Source: Posted Image.com
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skibboy
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Florence: Largest asteroid in century to safely fly by Earth

1 September 2017

Posted Image

The largest asteroid in more than a century is set to pass by Earth at a relatively close distance of 4.4 million miles (7 million km), Nasa says.

Florence measures 2.7 miles (4.4km) in diameter and will not pose a threat to Earth for centuries to come.

While other asteroids have passed closer to Earth, they were all estimated to be smaller.

Asteroids are the rubble left over from the formation of the Sun and planets.

At its closest point, Florence - which was discovered in 1981 - will be at about 18 times the average distance between the Earth and the Moon.

"Florence is the largest asteroid to pass by our planet this close since the [American space agency] Nasa program to detect and track near-Earth asteroids began," Paul Chodas, manager of Nasa's Center for Near-Earth Object Studies, said in a statement.

The 2017 encounter is the closest by this asteroid since 1890 and the closest it will ever be until after 2500, the US space agency added.

Scientists plan to study the asteroid up close, using ground-based radar imaging in California and Puerto Rico.

Amateur astronomers will also be tracking it, says Sky and Telescope Magazine.

The rock is relatively easy to see with good observing equipment, not just because it is large but also because it reflects more than 20% of the sunlight that hits its surface.

The Moon in contrast has an average reflectivity of just 12%.

An object of Florence's size would have global effects were it to hit the Earth.

Scientists believe they have now identified more than 90% of such monster rocks moving through space near our planet.

Source: Posted Image.com
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skibboy
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06 September 2017

Asteroid Florence has two moons

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© NASA/JPL-CALTECH/AFP/File | This NASA illustration shows Florence, an asteroid that passed within 4.4 million miles (7.0 million kilometers) of Earth last week. Radar images revealed that Florence has two moons

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Florence, an asteroid that came within 4.4 million miles (7.0 million kilometers) of Earth last week, has two small moons, according to radar images obtained by NASA.

Radar images obtained between August 29 and September 1, when Florence came closest to Earth, reveal that the asteroid is about 2.8 miles (4.5 kilometers) in size, the US space agency said.

It said the two moons were probably between 300-1,000 feet (100-300 meters) across.

The inner moon takes approximately eight hours to revolve around Florence while the outer moon takes between 22 and 27 hours, NASA said.

According to NASA, 60 near-Earth asteroids are known to have moons and Florence is the first observed with two moons since Asteroid 1994 in June 2009.

NASA said the radar images of Florence, which was discovered in 1981, were obtained by the Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex in California.

"While many known asteroids have passed by closer to Earth than Florence... all of those were estimated to be smaller," said Paul Chodas, manager of NASA's Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. "Florence is the largest asteroid to pass by our planet this close since the NASA program to detect and track near-Earth asteroids began."

Source: Posted Image.com
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