Posted on 09/26/2021 8:00:19 AM PDT by BenLurkin
2021 SG passed us safely on Sept. 16, but at a relatively close distance -- astronomically speaking -- of around 153,000 miles (246,000 km). If it had entered Earth's atmosphere, it likely would have caused destruction, especially if it hit near a populated area.
The Chelyabinsk meteor and asteroid 2021 SG point out a literal blind spot when it comes to watching for so-called near-Earth objects: the sun. As NASA solar system ambassador Eddie Irizarry and EarthSky editor-in-chief Deborah Byrd explain, both space rocks went undetected as they approached us because they came from the direction of the sun.
NASA plans to launch its NEO Surveyor spacecraft in 2026, which will be parked at a spot in space between Earth and the sun so it can detect the objects we can't see from here.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnet.com ...
Doesnt take a very big rock like that to do great damage.
If you have ever been to that crater, you can see how it bulged up the ground for MILES around there.
Close to a mile the meteor crater in Az.
From orbit?😉
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.