Posted on 09/22/2020 6:54:35 PM PDT by BenLurkin
Scientists have yet to pin down the asteroid's exact size, but it's not that large, likely between 14 feet and 32 feet (4.4 and 9.9 meters) long, according to CNEOS. This potentially RV-size asteroid was discovered only last week, on Sept. 18, by the Mount Lemmon Survey in Arizona, and announced the next day by the Minor Planet Center, a NASA-funded group that monitors minor planets, comets and natural satellites. (It's not unusual to find unknown asteroids; in September alone, the Minor Planet Center has announced the discovery of 244 near-Earth objects.)
Passing by Earth will actually be a life-changing event for asteroid 2020 SW. It's such a small asteroid that Earth's gravity is expected to change the space rock's course when it zooms by our planet at 7:18 a.m. EDT (11:18 UTC), according to EarthSky.
After asteroid 2020 SW's close shave with Earth, it won't pay our planet another visit until June 3, 2029, according to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
That said, the asteroid is certainly rushing to see us this Thursday..., traveling at a velocity of about 17,200 mph (27,720 km/h, or 7.7 km/second) relative to Earth, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory reported.
The asteroid will appear brighter as it nears Earth, but it won't be visible to the naked eye. If you want a clear view of the space rock, visit The Virtual Telescope website, which is showing a live feed starting at 6 p.m. EDT (22:00 UTC) on Wednesday, Sept. 23.
(Excerpt) Read more at livescience.com ...
Thank you! I’m all stressed out at this frickin’ SCOTUS Circus that McConnell the Ring Master seems to be going along with. I saw your thread, knew a great picture would be posted that would make me LMAO and here you are! I really needed this:)
Clearly it's from Spaceballs. Thanks BenLurkin.
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lol I was just thinking that
I read the title, and was going to post that same pic, but you beat me to it.
“That said, the asteroid is certainly rushing to see us this Thursday..., traveling at a velocity of about 17,200 mph (27,720 km/h, or 7.7 km/second) relative to Earth, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory reported. “
More likely is that the asteroid is sitting still and Earth is headed towards it at 17,200mph.
trump’s fault
I hope it honks on the way by... That’d be cool.
Of course an intergalactic RV is going to cruise by Earth instead of The Moon. There is no atmosphere there.
May it land on Biden.
Spaceballs!
Might be Joe on the No Malarkey Tour.
Biden will take cover in his basement while President Trump will flout this interplanetary menace.
If Biden sees his shadow when he finally steps out from his bunker, there will be 10 more weeks on campaigning.
I think asteroids should replace the word hemorrhoids.
Will it be towing one of those crappy little Suzukis?
Look for the Good Sam sticker!
That’s what France deserves.
j/k
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