Seeing Armageddon In A Grain Of Sand
Sunday, November 6, 2011 - 20:50
in Astronomy & Space
It is coming fast. And it is big. The next NEO (Near-Earth Object) encounter that is. This Tuesday, a 400 m (1,300 ft) diameter rock, known as 2005 YU55, will approach earth and pass by at a distance that is from astronomical perspective truly minuscule: 0.00217 AU. In a solar system that stretches more than 80 AU in diameter, that is less than a hair width. Such close encounters for objects of this size are expected to occur no more than a few times per century. Earth, keep starboard - we are going to pass! read more
