367943 Duende
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2012 DA14 is a near earth asteroid with a diameter of about 44 meters and a mass of about 120,000 metric tons[1] which was discovered on February 23, 2012, by the OAM Observatory, La Sagra in Spain (J75).[2] Calculations show that on February 15, 2013, the distance between the asteroid and the Earth will be 0.07 LD (27,000 km; 17,000 mi).[3]
Risks
- There is estimated to be a cumulative 0.021% chance (1 in 4,760) of 2012 DA14 impacting Earth sometime between 2020 and 2057.[1] (As of March 6, 2012, the odds of impact on 2020-Feb-16 are 1 in 83,000.)[1]
- It is rated a low −3.29 on the Palermo Scale.[4] (The risk is less than one thousandth of the estimated risk of another similarly sized near earth asteroid hitting the Earth during that time period.)[5]
- It rates 0 (No Hazard) on the Torino scale.[1]
If it were to strike the Earth, it is estimated that it would be of a similar scale as the Tunguska impact.[1]
On February 15, 2013, DA14 will pass no closer than 0.000181 AU (27,100 km; 16,800 mi) from the center-point of the Earth,[6] which is outside of the atmosphere. This is closer than satellites in geosynchronous orbit. Due to the uncertainty in the short observation arc of 11 days, it is also possible that the asteroid will pass 0.0014 AU (210,000 km; 130,000 mi) from the Earth on February 15, 2013.[6]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e "Earth Impact Risk Summary: 2012 DA14". NASA/JPL Near-Earth Object Program Office. Retrieved 2012-03-05.
- ^ "MPEC 2012-D51 : 2012 DA14". IAU Minor Planet Center. 2010-02-24. Retrieved 2012-03-05. (K12D14A)
- ^ NEO Earth Close-Approaches
- ^ "Sentry Risk Table". NASA/JPL Near-Earth Object Program Office. 14 Oct 2011. Retrieved 2012-03-05.
- ^ Math: 103.29 = 1949
- ^ a b "JPL Close-Approach Data: (2012 DA14)". 2012-03-04 last obs (arc=10 days). Retrieved 2012-03-05.
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External links
- Physical characteristics of 2012 DA14, nasa.gov
- 2012 DA14 Earth Impact Risk Summary, nasa.gov
- No, asteroid 2012 DA14 will not hit us next year, Bad Astronomy blog