Potentially hazardous asteroid spotted passing Earth with its own tiny moon

cnet ^ | 02/12/2020 | Eric Mack

[BenLurkin]

Radar images from the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico showed that asteroid 2020 BX12 is actually a binary system. In other words, the big space rock is carrying around a smaller asteroid 70 meters (230 feet) in diameter that orbits it like a tiny moon.

With a diameter of up to 450 meters (1,476 feet) according to NASA data, the larger of the two asteroids qualifies the system to fit the definition of a potentially hazardous asteroid, which is based solely on its size and vicinity to Earth. It does not, however, mean that 2020 BX12 actually presents a potential hazard to humans anytime soon. In fact, it already passed by us on Feb. 3 at a distance more than 11 times as far as the moon is from the Earth.

2020 BX12's orbit around the sun could one day bring it closer to Earth than the moon, but NASA data so far shows no chance of this occurring before the year 2200, and it doesn't appear that there would be any chance of impact.

[EvilCapitalist]

A hemorrhoid and a Klingon?

[BenLurkin]

[fieldmarshaldj]

*ping*

[Robert A Cook PE]

No, no. A Kling-Almost-On.

[Robert A Cook PE]

Rather, a Klingalong.

[DoodleBob]

At 450m wide, if the change of it hitting us is less than 1/100, it's a Zero

So, we live...and once again...

[redshawk]

It’s Bernie and little mike Bloomberg. ...lost in space.

[Robert A Cook PE]

Butt, there is only one. Clearly, a simple Klingalone.

[EvilCapitalist]

Needs a box to stand on.

[BenLurkin]

Was “it doesn’t appear that there would be any chance of impact” too subtle for you?

[mosesdapoet]

Thanks for the pix

[RetiredTexasVet]

Shouldn’t this be titled: “Nevermind”!

[Right Wing Assault]

The sky is falling! Again! And again, and again, and again...

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks BenLurkin, fieldmarshaldj, and Robert A Cook PE.

---

join or quit view topics view or post blog bookmark post new topic subscribe

---