Lock S-foils into attack position...
And just what should we do to prepare?
It seems to me that Near Earth Objects are becoming a priority of the Astronomical Society.
They have actually proposed plans to nudge such rogues out of orbit.
Why the sudden interest with these objects? You tell me.
NASA NEO program -neo.jpl.nasa.gov
PrintShareThisWait! Did you hear that whooshing sound?
A small asteroid buzzed by Earth Monday, though only real astronomy geeks in the Pacific would have noticed.
The rock, estimated to be no more than 200 feet wide, zoomed past our planet at an altitude of 40,000 miles at 1:44 p.m. universal time — or 8:44 EST.
Dubbed 2009 DD45, it was discovered only on Friday by Australian astronomers.
Forty thousand miles may sound like a lot, but it's only about one-seventh of the way to the moon, and less than twice as far out as many telecommunications satellites.
Had 2009 DD45 hit the Earth, it would have exploded on or near the surface with the force of a large nuclear blast — not very reassuring when you consider humanity had only about three days' notice.
According to the Australian news Web site Crikey, the asteroid is likely to be drawn in by Earth's gravity, meaning it may return for many more near misses in the future.
Lock S-foils into attack position...