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Astronomers Spot Closest Earth-Buzzing Asteroid Ever Recorded

posted by martyb on Thursday August 20 2020, @12:09PM   Printer-friendly
from the Chelyabinsk-wannabe dept.

Phoenix666 writes:

Astronomers spot closest Earth-buzzing asteroid ever recorded :

Astronomers have identified an asteroid that's just made the closest pass to Earth ever recorded – and it was only spotted after it had passed. The object skimmed Earth's atmosphere over the weekend, close enough to have its orbit changed by the planet's gravity.

On August 16, an asteroid designated 2020 QG whizzed past our planet at a distance of only 2,950 km (1,830 mi) above the surface. That's well within the altitude of many satellites, and almost twice as close as the previous record-holder, an asteroid called 2011 CQ1. Of course, this record is about the closest pass to Earth, and doesn't include objects that have impacted the planet.

That said, even if it had hit, asteroid 2020 QG wouldn't have caused any damage. It measures about 3 to 6 m (10 to 20 ft) wide, meaning it would have just burned up in the atmosphere.

Also at phys.org and JPL.

Perhaps the Monolith was doing a fly-by.

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  • (Score: 3, Insightful) by Immerman on Friday August 21 2020, @02:18PM (4 children)

    by Immerman (3985) on Friday August 21 2020, @02:18PM (#1039882)

    It seems you are correct, however I stand by my comment on jokes above, and the flamebait mod seems to agree with me:

    Without the larger context of your apparently ongoing sparring, your statement is an inaccurate insult which can only serve to damage one or both of your reputations. Had you attacked them directly, or made clear that you were joking, it would be a somewhat different situation. But you presented it as an honest warning directed at an independent third party (myself).

    Starting Score:    1  point
    Moderation   +1  
       Insightful=1, Total=1
    Extra 'Insightful' Modifier   0  
    Karma-Bonus Modifier   +1  
    Total Score:   3  

  • (Score: 2) by FatPhil on Friday August 21 2020, @03:38PM (3 children)

    by FatPhil (863) <reversethis-{if.fdsa} {ta} {tnelyos-cp}> on Friday August 21 2020, @03:38PM (#1039929) Homepage
    I had presented it as a post-hoc warning to someone who'd just made a comment about the pointlessness of post-hoc warnings.
    --
    Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people; the smallest discuss themselves

    • (Score: 2) by Immerman on Friday August 21 2020, @04:03PM (2 children)

      by Immerman (3985) on Friday August 21 2020, @04:03PM (#1039945)

      No - a post-hoc warning would be a warning that only applied to that specific comment. You presented it as warning about an ongoing trend.

      • (Score: 2) by FatPhil on Friday August 21 2020, @11:42PM

        by FatPhil (863) <reversethis-{if.fdsa} {ta} {tnelyos-cp}> on Friday August 21 2020, @11:42PM (#1040164) Homepage
        maybe it is.....
        --
        Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people; the smallest discuss themselves

      • (Score: 2) by FatPhil on Saturday August 22 2020, @09:13AM

        by FatPhil (863) <reversethis-{if.fdsa} {ta} {tnelyos-cp}> on Saturday August 22 2020, @09:13AM (#1040303) Homepage
        Just because you have no conceptualisation of how to create a joke doesn't mean one wasn't made. At this rate, I'm going to foe you just so I don't have to put up with you inordinate tedium.
        --
        Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people; the smallest discuss themselves