Asteroid 2012 DA14 Earth Flyby Live Blog 02/15/2013
The asteroid will make its closest approach at 2:25 p.m. EST, with NASA showing the flyby online.
Join us as we turn our eyes to the sky as an asteroid passes by Earth. Science reporter Jason Koebler is live blogging for U.S. News & World Report Friday afternoon.
You can also read up on the meteorite that shook sections of Russia overnight. You can also check out photos of meteorite's impact on Russia.
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The asteroid is going to come closest to the Earth at about 2:25 PM EST, according to NASA. The asteroid, which is about the size of an Olympic-sized swimming pool, won't be visible to the naked eye, but can be seen with powerful binoculars or a telescope, experts say.
Go to www.heavens-above.com to find out where to look.
"It's 10 times fainter than the human eye can detect," says Mark Bailey, director of the United Kingdom's Armagh Observatory. -
At its closest point Friday, the asteroid will be just 17,200 miles from Earth--closer than some communications and weather satellites.
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NASA got a "sneak peek" of the #asteroid Thursday, when it was about 465,000 miles away from Earth. http://twitpic.com/c415yd
by jason_koebler via twitter 2/15/2013 6:59:18 PM -
Graphic depicts the trajectory of asteroid 2012 DA14 on Feb 15, 2013. In this view, we are looking down from above Earth's north pole. (NASA/JPL-Caltech)
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A screen shot of computer simulations that track the real time trajectory of the DA14 asteroid. This screenshot is from approximately 1:50 p.m. EST. (NASA/JPL-Caltech)
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While we're waiting for the asteroid to pass, here's some more information about the meteorite that struck Russia. Various scientists have said they are completely unrelated, but that it's quite the coincidence. Here's the official NASA line:
"According to NASA scientists, the trajectory of the Russian meteorite was significantly different than the trajectory of the asteroid 2012 DA14, making it a completely unrelated object. Information is still being collected about the Russian meteorite and analysis is preliminary at this point. In videos of the meteor, it is seen to pass from left to right in front of the rising sun, which means it was traveling from north to south. Asteroid DA14's trajectory is in the opposite direction, from south to north."
Bailey says it's something that occurs about "every 20-30 years," but that smaller meteorites hit Earth every couple months. NASA has confirmed that the meteorite, which injured more than 1,000 people, is the largest one since the Tunguska Event, when an object 100 feet wide hit Russia in 1908, causing an explosion equivalent to the force of 10 megatons of TNT. By comparison, the Hiroshima nuclear bomb was just 12.5 kilotons. -
Wondering how scientists can be so sure that 2012 DA14 won't hit Earth?
Bailey says "gravity is very well understood," so, over the course of a few months, scientists can project its trajectory.
"DA14 was discovered about a year ago. As soon as it's discovered, you know where it is, but not where it's going. But we observe it over several days and make our first approximation, then you observe it again and again over weeks and ideally over several years," he says. "We're able to make finer adjustments to its projected orbit."
Because DA14 was discovered just a year ago, Bailey says "its orbit is still somewhat uncertain," but that there's still no chance it hits Earth. When its further out, there's always the possibility something diverts it.
"It could conceivably run into another meteroid, which would give it a whack and deflect it ever so slightly," he says. "But the chances of that happening now are very small." -
So, what if something the size of DA14 were to hit Earth? It wouldn't be great, according to Paul Chodas of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
"It'd have an impact similar to that of a nuclear bomb," he says.
According to NASA, the asteroid would release "approximately 2.5 megatons of energy in the atmosphere and would be expected to cause regional devastation."
Here's some comforting news: NASA estimates there are about 500,000 near-Earth asteroids the size of 2012 DA14. "Of those, less than one percent have been discovered," they say. -
Lawmakers are using the Russian meteorite impact to spur investment in space.
Lamar Smith (R-Texas), chairman of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, said the U.S. needs to do a better job of detecting asteroids.
"Developing technology and research that enable us to track objects like Asteroid 2012 DA14 is critical to our future. We should continue to invest in systems that identify threatening asteroids and develop contingencies, if needed, to change the course of an asteroid headed toward Earth," he said in a released statement.
"The Science, Space, and Technology Committee will hold a hearing in the coming weeks to examine ways to better identify and address asteroids that pose a potential threat to Earth." -
NASA says that DA14 is about to pass Earth at its closest point momentarily. Buckle up everyone.
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Everyone still here? "It's on its way out," Chodas says.
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Chodas told me earlier today that DA14 and the Russian meteorite serve as a reminder that Earth could get hit at any time.
"It's just a reminder that it's a shooting gallery out there and we're right in the middle of it," he says. "We need to get better at detecting smaller asteroids." -
So long! #Asteroid #2012DA14 just made its closest approach to Earth ever, safely passing our planet 17,500 miles above Indonesiaby NASAJPL via twitter 2/15/2013 7:26:57 PM -
Stay tuned for some tweets from scientists and astronomers about the asteroid.
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One half of one percent: The fraction of the US Federal Budget allocated to all of NASA's activities.by neiltyson via twitter 2/15/2013 7:28:05 PM -
One twentieth of one percent: The fraction of NASA's budget allocated to locating Killer Asteroids.by neiltyson via twitter 2/15/2013 7:28:17 PM
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DA14 has passed closest approach, leaving now. Thanks Bruce Willis.by Andrew Kaczynski via twitter 2/15/2013 7:28:53 PM -
Everything you need to know about #Asteroid #2012DA14. FAQs, explainers & animations of the flyby: http://www.nasa.gov/asteroidflybyby NASA via twitter 2/15/2013 7:29:54 PM -
Well, looks like we're safe for now. But check back in 16 years, when an asteroid called Apophis, which is nearly 1,000 miles wide, will come as close as this asteroid did. That date? Friday the 13th (of April, 2029).
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Did you know that meteorites strike Earth every couple months?
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Here's some (actual) good news: Late last year, scientists at the University of Hawaii discovered that an asteroid known as AG5 will miss Earth by more than 550,000 miles. That asteroid is 460 feet wide and isn't coming near Earth until 2040, but astronomers worried at one point that it had "significant potential" to threaten Earth.
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Okay, everyone, that's a wrap on our liveblog. Feel free to check out the photos from Russia, and don't forget to follow us on Twitter an Facebook.
