Posted on 01/25/2023 9:52:27 AM PST by Red Badger
Asteroid 2023 BU imaged by the Virtual Telescope as it approached Earth in January 2023.
(Image credit: Virtual Telescope Project)
Wednesday, January 25, 2023: A newly discovered asteroid that will pass very close to Earth on Friday has been photographed by an Italian astronomer as it makes its approach.
The space rock, called 2023 BU, is only about 13 to 30 feet (4 to 9 meters) wide, and was discovered last Saturday (Jan. 21) by prolific Crimea-based astronomer and telescope builder Gennadiy Borisov (the same man who discovered the first interstellar comet, which now bears his name, Borisov, in 2018)
The asteroid will pass only 2,240 miles (3,600 kilometers) from Earth's surface on Friday (Jan. 27), becoming the 4th closest asteroid ever observed apart from those that actually struck the planet, according to the Virtual Telescope website(opens in new tab). For comparison, satellites of the global navigation system GPS orbit 12,500 miles (20,200 km) above Earth, about four times farther away.
This image, however, was taken when the asteroid was still quite far, about 360,000 miles (580,000 km) away from us, which is 124,000 miles (200,000 km) farther away than the orbit of the moon.
Italian astronomer Gianluca Masi took the image on Tuesday (Jan. 24) using his robotic Elena telescope located just outside of Rome. – Tereza Pultarova
Yes, of course, many people have, including me. It was at night and suddenly it became bright as day for a second or two. A couple of minutes went by and then a sonic boom that rattled my windows. The rock was found in a neighbors yard.
“Has any asteroid actually been observed striking earth? By people?”
The Younger Dryas, momentarily.
Does it whip around the sun for another try?
Tall el-Hammam.
Any chance of it hitting D.C. so we can start over?
I think that was a bolide.
The Asteroid will hit right when the Lions are on the verge of winning the Super Bowl.
Check up on the whereabouts of Bruce Willis and Steve Buscemi.
Just in case...🤔🤔🤔
Washington DC
Detroit Michigan
San Francisco
Philadelphia
Portland Oregon
Brussels, Belgium
New York Coty
Los Angeles
Houston Texas
In that approximate order.
Look out Ned, It’s coming right for us!
It’s been over 12,000 years since the last major hit... I don’t think liberals can turn this into their next “climate freak out’... or population bomb or peak oil, or ozone hole or or or or...
‘
I’m rootin’ for the asteroid.
I am expecting an earth shattering KABOOM ........!!
Actually being inside our Satellite bubble is a concern. If it smacks one or two it could set off a chain reaction...
When Worlds Collide - 1951
That would get my attention…
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