Posted on 05/21/2019 4:52:36 PM PDT by BenLurkin
Asteroid (66391) 1999 KW4 is actually a double asteroid or a binary asteroid...composed of one large asteroid orbited by a smaller moon...about a third of a mile wide and orbits around the larger body about once every 16 hours.
The Las Cumbres Observatory describes 1999 KW4 as slightly squashed at the poles and with a mountain ridge around the equator, which runs all the way around the asteroid. This ridge gives the primary an appearance similar to a walnut or a spinning top.
While 1999 KW4 is classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid by the Minor Planet Center, it should clear Earth at a very safe distance of 3,219,955 miles. To put it in perspective, thats more than 13 times the distance from the Earth to the moon.
The closest approach will happen Saturday at 7:05 p.m. EDT (23:05 UTC) and will be most favorable for observers in Earths Southern Hemisphere. People in the Northern Hemisphere will need to wait until a day or two after closest approach for the asteroid to come over our southern horizons.
If you want to try to spot it, check out the helpful tips and charts provided by NASA solar system ambassador Eddie Irizarry over at EarthSky.
(Excerpt) Read more at losangeles.cbslocal.com ...
3rd pic Nessie?
A mile-wide asteroid has enough gravity to capture a satellite?
I never would have guessed.
They think it’s Hale-Bopp. Mass squirrel suicide coming.
Looks like and out of focus water bear.
It’s on the camera lens.
Well, not THAT far back. think 1950s.
That’s no walnut — that’s a cupcake.
I’m surprised it’d have that orbiting one. I didn’t think there’d be enough gravity to hold it in place like that.
Maybe it’s really just another alien probe sent as a follow up to that umma gumma thing or whatever it was.
A Saucerful Of Secrets (Ummagumma)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQSkYUFou54
LOL!
Yes, this is exactly why I can never remember the name of that thing.
If it’s got mass it’s got gravity.
https://www.ecnmag.com/news/2019/05/development-displacement-sensor-measure-gravity-smallest-source-mass-ever
Development of a Displacement Sensor to Measure Gravity of Smallest Source Mass Ever
Fri, 05/17/2019 - 11:18am
by Tohoku University
That just barely gives me time to order a pair of Nikes from Amazon!
Common phenomenon. But no, they don't actually "capture" their satellites. Co-creation is more likely.
Regards,
Watched this before I got up today:
Cosmic Journeys - Day of the Asteroid
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AO-gegCmRpQ
this appears to be a second copy:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4xxGojCytA
Thanks, looked like tv-show quality (I assume it was).
At first, I thought that was gonna be a rock video... (well, it was, just not that kind of rock).
The first comment below the video was hilarious (”should I watch a horror movie... or watch this and poop my pants ?”).
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.