NASA tracks a 4KM asteroid approach - Could end civilization if it hits!

AN ASTEROID big enough to end civilization should it ever hit will approach our planet in April, NASA's asteroid trackers have found.

The asteroid is being watched by NASA’s automated tracking systems at the Center for Near Earth Object Studies in California, US. The asteroid has been officially called 52768 (1998 OR2) and is estimated measure up 2.5 miles (4.1km) across.

An object this big could potentially spell the end of the human race if it strikes the planet.
NASA estimates the rock is heading our way at speeds of about 8.7km per second or 19,461mph (31,320kmh).

At this rate, the asteroid will close-in on Earth on April 29. When this happens, NASA said the asteroid will make a “close approach of about 4 million miles away” to our planet. According to the Planetary Society, an asteroid bigger than 0.6 miles (1km) across is big enough to threaten global destruction.

Astronomers estimate such objects have a one in 50,000 chance of hitting Earth every 100 years.
The Planetary Society lists the following impacts: “A crater of 10km or more: global devastation and possible collapse of civilization.”

Dr Bruce Betts from the international group of astronomers said: “Small asteroids – a few meters wide – hit frequently and burn up in the atmosphere and do little damage.

“Chelyabinsk size asteroids – about 20m that hit in 2013 – create shock waves that shatter windows and cause injuries.

“Tunguska sized – about 40m that hit Siberia in 1908 – could completely destroy a city or create a tsunami.

“Larger asteroids that hit on average less often could cause regional destruction.

“Even larger asteroids that hit even less frequently could cause a global catastrophe.”
The destructive potential of space rocks this big was also outlined in a 2018 report published by the US National Science and Technology Council.

The National Near-Earth Object Preparedness Strategy reads: “Objects close to and larger than one kilometer can cause damage on a global scale.

“They can trigger earthquakes, tsunamis, and other secondary effects that extend far beyond the immediate impact area.”

For comparison, the asteroid that is believed to have killed the dinosaurs measured about six miles (10km) across. Source: https://www.express.co.uk

Feburary 4th asteriod near miss!

Just imagine an asteroid that is larger than the world trade center in NY crashing into the earth! NASA scientists state that the consequences of such an event would be 'dire'. Well, just such a space rock, dubbed 2002 AJ129 will be thundering by our planet on February the 4^th, cruising along at about 67,000 mile per hour! Comparing that speed to a speeding bullet traveling at 1700 mph give one the idea that this mother is really in a big hurry!

Although the rock will almost certainly not collide with us, as long as it remains within its current trajectory, scientists have previously warned that such an impact could have a dire impact on our planet. (It's been recently noted that some asteroids can experience sudden and explosive out gassing events that can and do change trajectories of such 'astro-bodies' in unpredictable ways)!

"These would not be pleasant times," Charles Bardeen, of the National Center for Atmospheric Research said during a presentation at the American Geophysical Union (AGU).

A 2016 study found that the impact of a slightly smaller space object would bring about a mini Ice Age. Temperatures would fall across the planet as much as 8 degrees Celsius. The effects would last for several years, leading to potentially severe devastation around the globe, not to mention the havoc caused by the initial impact.

Asteroid to make near Earth miss on Feb 20th!

Dubbed asteroid 2014 BR57, this mass of rock was just discovered by the Mt. Lemmon Survey (Arizona) on January 28, 2014. Little is known about its physical properties at this time although some evidence suggests it has a diameter of about 60 meters (about 200 feet across). It will get within 0.011 AU (4.3 lunar distances) on February 20 making for a too close for comfort approach!

Smaller asteroids like this one, are difficult to detect, and there are thousands of them out there in space. The cutoff size of what could cause major damage to Earth, such as a tsunami or an air burst, is difficult to state because it depends upon what the asteroid is made of, e.g., a metal asteroid vs. a soft one. Some sources put it at about 150 meters. 2014 BR57 is less than half that size...

Asteroid DA14 to arrive Feb 15th

What’s bigger than half a foot ball field, travels at 8 miles a second and will skim over the earth’s surface on February the 15^th at a height that will be closer than our orbiting satellites? Why it’s an asteroid you silly goose and it goes by the cryptic name DA14.

This is the closest any body of this size has ever gotten to the earth in memory…without impacting it that is. 2012 DA14 was discovered less than a year ago by a Spanish team at the La Sagra Astronomical Observatory, and initially stirred up a wave of doomsday worries. NASA quickly stepped in and quieted those fears, stating that while it will pass ‘interestingly close’, it should miss us. (This assumes that there will be no last minute perturbations to the asteroid’s orbit, of course)! HA HA.

At the time of its passage, the rocky intruder will be passing over parts of Asia, so even were it to slam into earth, it would more than likely miss North America. Its closest approach will be at 2:24 p.m. ET Feb. 15 and scientists say that were it to hit land, it would only be similar to a small atomic bomb. (Small comfort if you happen to live in a city where it hits)!