Asteroids could be approaching Earth undetected as NASA scientists find a danger zone that allows space rocks to 'sneak up' on telescopes because of a quirk of the planet's daily rotation

Daily Mail ^ | Ian Randall

[BenLurkin]

This is the warning of NASA-funded experts who investigated how telescopes nearly missed a 328-feet-wide asteroid that came within 43,500 miles of Earth back in 2019.

The space rock, dubbed '2019 OK', was the first object of its size to get that close to our planet since 1908 — but it was only spotted 24 hours before its closest approach.

The reason, the team determined, is because it was moving towards us in such a way that its motion across the night sky was counteracted by the Earth's spin.

Thus — to early warning systems like Pan-STARRS1 at Hawaii's Haleakala Observatory — 2019 OK looked stationary, so did not set off the automated detection software.

In fact, the experts said, up to half of asteroids approaching Earth from a danger zone east of 'opposition' likely undergo periods of such apparent slow motion.

An asteroid is said to be at opposition when its position in the night sky places it along a line that intersects both the Earth and the sun.

This means that half of these asteroids could presently also be difficult to detect — and computerised telescopes will need to be updated to take account of the effect.

[BenLurkin]

Nobody saw this one coming until it struck...

It came from another blind spot.

[BenLurkin]

ping

[Magnetar]

Don’t look up.

[TomGuy]

So if the COVID don’t get ya
then the asteroid well

You load 16 tons and what’da’ya get...

[WMarshal]

Worst fear porn ever.

[mewzilla]

Speaking of NASA...

House Democrats attempt end-around of filibuster to pass election law using NASA bill

[Rurudyne]

Danger Zone

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=siwpn14IE7E

[Paladin2]

Sounds like that would be spanking of NASA, at the least.

[Seruzawa]

[Seruzawa]

Seriously. So what? There is absolutely nothing that could be done about it.

[cgbg]

Everyone should have a sign with big print they can pull out when the asteroid goes over their house.

“Washington DC ———>”

[Verginius Rufus]

Why is it called 2019 OK? Was it headed for Oklahoma?

[WeaslesRippedMyFlesh]

You know how you find a unique planet...

Unique up on it.

[GaltAdonis]

"...There is absolutely nothing that could be done about it..."

But we could be terrified.
It's very, very important to be afraid, right?
How can we be fleeced and controlled if not by fear?

[Vaquero]

If it comes out of the Sun, fast, like a P-51 Mustang on an unaware Messerschmidt we’ll never know what hit us or at least not have enough time to divert it.

[PIF]

Coming out from behind the sun is also a blind spot. I read that once that happens there is nothing anyone can do to stop it.

[DannyTN]

Don't worry about that. That's just my mail order brides delivery.

[blueunicorn6]

NASA couldn’t find their asteroid with both hands and a map.

[BenLurkin]

Which one is for me?

[BenLurkin]

I’m thinking of setting up a fearporn ping list. Interested?