The first radar images of asteroid 1998 QE2 were obtained when the asteroid was about 3.75 million miles (6 million kilometers) from Earth, as pictured in this image courtesy of NASA. The small white dot at lower right is the moon, or satellite, orbiting asteroid 1998 QE2. A large asteroid accompanied by its own small moon was approaching Earth on May 31, 2013, the latest in a string of celestial visitors drawing attention to the potential dangers of objects in space.
Boston: A newly discovered asteroid about half the size of a football field will pass nearer to Earth than any other known object of its size on Friday, giving scientists a rare opportunity for close-up observations without launching a probe.
At its closest approach, which will occur at 2:24 p.m. EST/1924 GMT, the asteroid will pass about 17,200 miles (27,520 km) above the planet traveling at 8 miles (13 km) per second, bringing it nearer than the networks of television and weather satellites that ring the planet.
Although Asteroid 2012 DA14 is the largest known object of its size to pass this close, scientists say there is no chance of an impact, this week or in the foreseeable future.
Currently, DA14 matches Earth's year-long orbit around the sun, but after Friday's encounter its flight path will change, said astronomer Donald Yeomans, with NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California.
A newly discovered asteroid 2012 DA14, which is about half the size of a football field will pass nearer to Earth than any other known object of its size on Friday, giving scientists a rare opportunity for close-up observations without launching a probe.
At its closest approach, which will occur at 1924 GMT (12.55am IST), the asteroid will pass about 27,520 km above the planet traveling at 13 km per second, bringing it even closer to earth than the weather and TV satellites that ring the planet.
Here are five things you need to know about the asteroid:
First, what's the big deal about this one: Well, it's huge! It is approximately 45 meters in diameter and has an estimated mass of about 130,000 metric tons. This is the closest ever flyby for a predicted Earth approach for an object this large according to Nasa.
London: An asteroid due to whizz past the Earth this week could take out vital telecommunications satellites, scientists warn. They are sure there is no chance of the 45.7-metre-wide space rock hitting the planet. However, there is a remote possibility that it could collide with one of more than 100 telecommunication and weather satellites in fixed orbits above the Earth.
The asteroid, 2012 DA14, has been closely tracked since its discovery a year ago, The Telegraphreported. It is predicted to reach its nearest point to the Earth on Friday. Experts have calculated it will stay at least 27,681 km away - easily far enough to be safe, but a very close shave in astronomical terms. Scientists have never observed such a narrow miss before.
Dr Dan Brown, from Nottingham Trent University, said telecommunication satellites - that ping data between our mobile phones -could be in danger. Travelling at between 20,000 kph and 30,000 kph, or eight times the speed of a rifle bullet - the asteroid will fly inside the orbits of high geostationary satellites some 35,406 km above the Earth. These are the satellites that provide us with telecommunications and weather forecasts, said Brown.
The asteroid 2012 DA14 is marked with a red circle in this handout image taken by Argentine's Gloria Project researchers and distributed by Spanish Research Council (CSIC), February 15, 2013. The asteroid, some 150 feet (46 meters) in diameter will pass close, but safely, by Earth on February 15, 2013. Although asteroid 2012 DA14 is the largest known object of its size to pass this close, scientists say there is no chance of an impact, this week or in the foreseeable future.
The passage of asteroid 2012 DA14 through the Earth-moon system, is depicted in this handout image from NASA. On February 15, 2013, an asteroid, 150 feet (45 meters) in diameter will pass close, but safely, by Earth. The flyby creates a unique opportunity for researchers to observe and learn more about asteroids.
