EXPLORE


JOINRENEWJOIN

Give a Gift Membership
  

Planetary News: Asteroids and Comets (2002)

Asteroid Gives Earth a Close Flyby

By Melanie Melton
9 January 2002

A newly discovered asteroid flew within 600,000 kilometers (375,000 miles) of Earth on January 7th, giving our planet a bit of a close shave.

Something passing within 600,000 kilometers of us (about twice the distance between the Earth and the Moon) may not sound like it poses a threat to anyone - and as it turns out it didn't - but it is still a little too close for comfort. Just for reference, Mars and Venus, the two closest planets to us, are each several millions of kilometers away.

The mysterious interloper has been given the name 2001 YB5. It was discovered just last month by a Near Earth Asteroid Tracking (NEAT) survey telescope at Mount Palomar Observatory in California.

Estimates of the object's size range from 220 - 490 meters (720 - 1,600 feet). If such an object were to impact the Earth, the resulting explosion could equal the simultaneous explosion of hundreds of atomic bombs. The devastating effects would be enough to wipe out a medium-sized country.

Not too worry, though. 2001 YB5 has been categorized as only a "potentially hazardous" asteroid. If the object maintains its current orbit, Earth is in no danger.

There are currently several asteroid and Near Earth Objects (NEOs) search teams that are scanning our skies for potential threats. 2001 YB5 was discovered by one such program. NASA is currently funding several projects to locate and identify all of the Near Earth Asteroids that are 1 kilometer or larger in size within a 10-year period. As a result, there has been a dramatic increase in asteroid and NEO discoveries.

However, we still have much to learn. If a potential impactor is discovered several years in advance, it may be possible to develop the necessary technology to deflect the object. However, with our current technology and only a month's warning, there really wouldn't be anything for us to do but sit back and watch.

So, let us take 2001 YB5 as a warning and take heed.