Near-Earth asteroid 2012 DA14 [merged x6]

[Simbi Laveau]

I'm beginning to think the false flag alien invasion ,will really be a false flag asteroid hit .If it really hits us,nothing will matter much after that any way .

[Waspie_Dwarf]

ScienceCast: Record-Setting Asteroid Flyby

Visit http://science.nasa.gov/ for breaking science news.

On Feb. 15th an asteroid about half the size of a football field will fly past Earth closer than many man-made satellites. Since regular sky surveys began in the 1990s, astronomers have never seen an object so big come so close to our planet.

Source: Science@NASA - YouTube Channel

[+susieice]

An asteroid approximately the size of the one that exploded over Siberia will pass very close to Earth on February 15th. Scientists say there is no chance it will impact our planet.

http://news.yahoo.com/earth-safe-asteroids-close-flyby-next-week-210821585.html

[Ultima Weapon]

Close and yets so far...

[pallidin]

Seems to be a lot of this going on lately(or for a long time I suppose)

Wonder if it's just a matter of time before a good-sized chunk once again slams into Earth.

Ouch...

[Frank Merton]

Seems to be a lot of this going on lately(or for a long time I suppose)

Wonder if it's just a matter of time before a good-sized chunk once again slams into Earth.

Ouch...

Yea, its just a matter of time. The Tunguska event over a city would be a major disaster.

[Waspie_Dwarf]

Asteroid 2012 DA14 to Safely Pass Earth

The flyby of asteroid 2012 DA14 on Feb. 15, 2013, will be the closest known approach to Earth for an object its size.

Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech › Asteroid and Comet Watch site

Source: NASA - Multimedia

[Waspie_Dwarf]

Asteroid 2012 DA14 Flight Path

An animation depicting the trajectory of asteroid 2012 DA14 as it travels within the Earth-moon system on Feb. 15, 2013.

Credit: NASA › Asteroid and Comet Watch site

Source: NASA - Multimedia

[ColoradoParanormal]

Not sure if this has been posted? I looked, but failed to see anything. Thought it was rather interesting that an Asteroid capable of releasing an impact of 2.4 million tons of TNT, or about the same as the Tunguska River impact back in 1908, will be passing closer than ANY previously recorded terrestrial body before. The Asteroid will pass inside our Satellite ring.

A 150-foot-wide asteroid will come remarkably close to Earth next week, even closer than high-flying communication and weather satellites. It will be the nearest known flyby for an object of this size.

Source:

http://www.9news.com...o-need-to-duck-

[CRIPTIC CHAMELEON]

I will have to dust of my scope and hope we have clear skys.

[Waspie_Dwarf]

Not sure if this has been posted? I looked, but failed to see anything.

It had, yours was the sixth time.

[bison]

The Goldstone space radar will repeatedly scan the asteroid 2012 DA14 near the time of its closest approach, on Feb. 16,18, 19, and 20. Resolution will be about 3.75 meters. As the object is about 50 meters is diameter, its general shape, size, and its period of rotation will be observable. Not many surface details are expected to be discerned.

The light from the asteroid varies in a more or less regular way, by about a factor of 2. This suggests that it is probably elongated, and rotating. presenting variously sized aspects to our view. This asteroid appears to be of an uncommon type ( Ld ). It is conspicuously reddish in color.

Edited February 13, 2013 by bison

[bison]

An additional note on the diameter of asteroid 2012 DA14--- This was given as 50 meters, plus or minus 25 meters, for some time. the most recent figure from NASA is 65 meters, apparently with the same margins of error. That makes it probably about 30% larger than originally thought. This will improve the resolution of surface details on the object; more pixels will fit within the the part of the image containing the asteroid itself.

[Waspie_Dwarf]

NASA to Chronicle Close Earth Flyby of Asteroid

Diagram depicting the passage of asteroid 2012 DA14 through the Earth-moon system on Feb. 15, 2013. Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech › Larger view

PASADENA, Calif. -- NASA Television will provide commentary starting at 11 a.m. PST (2 p.m. EST) on Friday, Feb. 15, during the close, but safe, flyby of a small near-Earth asteroid named 2012 DA14. NASA places a high priority on tracking asteroids and protecting our home planet from them. This flyby will provide a unique opportunity for researchers to study a near-Earth object up close.

The half-hour broadcast from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., will incorporate real-time animation to show the location of the asteroid in relation to Earth, along with live or near real-time views of the asteroid from observatories in Australia, weather permitting.

At the time of its closest approach to Earth at approximately 11:25 a.m. PST (2:25 p.m. EST / 19:25 UTC), the asteroid will be about 17,150 miles (27,600 kilometers) above Earth's surface.

The commentary will be available via NASA TV and streamed live online at: http://www.nasa.gov/ntv and http://www.ustream.tv/nasajpl2

In addition to the commentary, near real-time imagery of the asteroid's flyby before and after closest approach, made available to NASA by astronomers in Australia and Europe, weather permitting, will be streamed beginning at about 9 a.m. PST (noon EST) and continuing through the afternoon at the following website: http://www.ustream.tv/nasajpl2

A Ustream feed of the flyby from a telescope at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., will be streamed for three hours starting at 6 p.m. PST (8 p.m. CST / 9 p.m. EST). To view the feed and ask researchers questions about the flyby via Twitter, visit: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/nasa-msfc

The NASA Near Earth Objects (NEO) Program at the agency's headquarters in Washington manages and funds the search, study and monitoring of NEOs, or asteroids and comets, whose orbits periodically bring them close to the Earth. NASA's study of NEOs provides important clues to understanding the origin of our solar system. The objects also are a repository of natural resources and could become waystations for future exploration. In collaboration with other external organizations, one of the program's key goals is to search and hopefully mitigate potential NEO impacts on Earth. JPL conducts the NEO program's technical and scientific activities.

For more information, including graphics and animations showing the flyby of 2012 DA14, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/asteroidflyby

For more information about asteroids and near-Earth objects, visit: http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/asteroidwatch

DC Agle 818-393-9011

Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.

agle@jpl.nasa.gov

Steve Cole 202-358-0918

NASA Headquarters, Washington

stephen.e.cole@nasa.gov

2013-059b

Source

[Waspie_Dwarf]

Near-Earth Asteroid Makes Preview Appearance

This animated set of three images depicts asteroid 2012 DA14 as it was seen on Feb. 14, 2013, at a distance of 465,000 miles (748,000 kilometers). Image credit: LCOGT/Faulkes › Full image and caption

http://img833.imageshack.us/img833/5231/727508mainasteroid2012d.jpg

Like trailers for the coming attraction, new images show asteroid 2012 DA14 on its way to a record-close approach to Earth on Feb. 15. One image, taken by amateur astronomer Dave Herald of Murrumbateman, Australia, on Feb. 13, shows the asteroid as a tiny white dot in the field of view. Another set of animated images, obtained by the Faulkes Telescope South in Siding Springs, Australia, on Feb. 14, and animated by the Remanzacco Observatory in Italy, shows the asteroid as a bright spot moving across the night sky

These are some of many images that may be taken of the asteroid during its close - but safe - encounter with Earth. It will be observed by numerous optical observatories worldwide in an attempt to determine its rough shape, spin rate and composition. NASA scientists will use NASA's Goldstone Solar System Radar, located in California's Mojave Desert, to take radar images of the asteroid to determine its precise size and shape on Feb. 16, 18, 19 and 20. The NASA Near Earth Object Observation (NEOO) Program will continue to track the asteroid and predict its future orbit.

Asteroid 2012 DA14 is about 150 feet (45 meters) in diameter. It is expected to fly about 17,200 miles (27,000 kilometers) above Earth's surface at the time of closest approach, which is about 11:25 a.m. PST (2:25 p.m. EST) on Feb. 15. This distance is well away from Earth and the swarm of low Earth-orbiting satellites, including the International Space Station, but it is inside the belt of satellites in geostationary orbit (about 22,200 miles, or 35,800 kilometers, above Earth's surface.) The flyby of 2012 DA14 is the closest-ever predicted approach to Earth for an object this large.

The NASA Near Earth Object Observation (NEOO) Program detects and tracks asteroids and comets passing close to Earth using ground- and space-based telescopes. The network of projects supported by this program, commonly called "Spaceguard," discovers these objects, characterizes a subset of them and plots their orbits to determine if any could be potentially hazardous to our planet.

The Near-Earth Object Program Office at JPL manages the technical and scientific activities for NASA's Near-Earth Object Observation Program of the Science Mission Directorate in Washington. JPL is a division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena. The NEOO Program Office performs more precise orbit determination on the objects, and predicts whether any will become an impact hazard to the Earth, or any other planet in the solar system.

More information is available at: http://www.nasa.gov/topics/solarsystem/features/asteroidflyby.html .

DC Agle 818-393-9011

Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.

agle@jpl.nasa.gov

2013-060

Source

[keithisco]

I am really miffed because I will be flying from Munich to Palma de Mallorca at the sam e time as closest approach!! Should I be on Port or Starboard of the plane? I have a pretty good pair of Binoculars for the event...

[Waspie_Dwarf]

Possible Seismic Activity on Asteroid 2012 DA14

Feb. 14, 2013: For eons, Earth has felt the tremors of asteroids striking our planet. From the extinction of the dinosaurs 65 million years ago to the felled forests around Tunguska in 1908, the space rocks keep coming.

This week, Earth strikes back. When asteroid 2014 DA14 makes a record close approach to our planet on Feb. 15th, the space rock could be the one feeling tremors.

New research by Richard Binzel, a professor of planetary science at MIT, suggests that many near-Earth asteroids experience a seismic jolt when they pass too close to our planet’s gravitational field.

"We are going to be looking closely for evidence of seismic activity on 2014 DA14 as it passes by," says Binzel. "This is the first case of an object coming close enough to experience quakes AND where we have enough notice to plan observations."

http://img805.imageshack.us/img805/4586/44789359.jpg

Binzel first began to entertain the idea of asteroid-quakes a few years ago when he was pondering a mystery about near-Earth asteroids:

"As asteroids move through space, they slowly turn dark-red. This phenomenon, called 'space weathering', is caused by long exposure to cosmic rays and solar radiation. For decades, however, we have known about a handful of small asteroids that looked [light and fresh]; they were not space weathered."

How did this group of space rocks avoid space weathering? To solve the mystery, Binzel and colleagues calculated the asteroids' orbits and found a telling clue: They all had very close encounters with Earth in the past million years.

"We believe they were 'shaken up' by their encounters with Earth," he says. "Gravitational forces during the flybys can stretch, rattle, and torque these asteroids, causing dark, space-weathered material on the surface to be overturned, revealing the fresh stuff underneath."

There is no Richter Scale for asteroids. Instead, Binzel expresses the force of the quakes in units of gravitational acceleration, or gees. 1 g = the acceleration due to gravity on Earth's surface. "These asteroids experience [seismic activity] in the milli- to micro-g range," he says. "That might not sound like much, but remember these are small bodies. Gravity is not very strong, so just a little shaking or stretching goes a long way."

Binzel imagines what an astronaut floating alongside such an asteroid might see: "The surface could slowly sway or rock by a few centimeters. Other things to look for would be puffs of asteroid-dust rising from the surface and gentle avalanches on the steepest slopes of craters." In rare cases, "rubble pile" asteroids might break apart during the encounter and then re-form as Earth recedes into the distance.

On February 15th, 2012 DA14 will thread the gap between Earth and the belt of geosynchronous satellites that orbits our planet. At closest approach, the 50-meter space rock will be just 17,200 miles above Earth's surface, a prime target for radars and telescopes.

MIT postdoc Nick Moskovitz, who works with Binzel, is coordinating observations with worldwide observatories to pin down the color, spin, shape, and reflectivity of the asteroid as it passes by. Changes in any of these quantities might be a sign of a quake. Participating telescopes include La Palma in the Canary Islands, the Siding Spring and Perth observatories in Australia, Mt John in New Zealand, Mt Canopus in Tasmania, WISE in Israel, and the Clay Center Massachusetts.

Also, NASA's Goldstone radar will be pinging 2012 DA14. The radar data can be used to create 3D movies showing the space rock from all sides. Goldstone might be the first to capture an asteroid-quake in action.

"We stand to learn a lot from the observations," says Binzel.

Let the flyby begin.

For more information about 2012 DA14 and other asteroids of interest, visit NASA’s Near-Earth Object Program web site: http://neo.jpl.nasa.gov

Author: Dr. Tony Phillips |Production editor: Dr. Tony Phillips | Credit: Science@NASA

Source

[Waspie_Dwarf]

Asteroid 2012 DA14 To Whiz Past Earth Safely

The small near-Earth asteroid 2012 DA14 will pass very close to Earth on Feb. 15, 2013. Asteroid 2012 DA14 will be closest to Earth at about 11:24 a.m. PST (2:24 p.m. EST and 1924 UTC), on Feb. 15, when it will be at a distance of about 27,700 kilometers (17,200 miles) above Earth's surface. NASA's Near-Earth Object Program Office can accurately predict the asteroid's path with the observations obtained, and it is therefore known that there is no chance that the asteroid might be on a collision course with Earth. Nevertheless, the flyby will provide a unique opportunity for researchers to study a near-Earth object up close.

Credit: NASA

Source: NASA - Multimedia

[justcalmebubba]

in my experence when the gov says it's not going to hurt.... lmao yep your gona hurt so with this they saying its a O chance of it b**** slaping us yeah aummm wanta lie to me sum more there what to do make popcorn get the biggest grease driping triple beacon cheese burger an ice cold beer and sit under a pine tree and enjoy it hell come saturday morning might just be eating dirt for breakfest any way got a good seat here picked out in arkansas if you or i dont get to laugh at this next week good luck and god speed

[Abramelin]

in my experence when the gov says it's not going to hurt.... lmao yep your gona hurt so with this they saying its a O chance of it b**** slaping us yeah aummm wanta lie to me sum more there what to do make popcorn get the biggest grease driping triple beacon cheese burger an ice cold beer and sit under a pine tree and enjoy it hell come saturday morning might just be eating dirt for breakfest any way got a good seat here picked out in arkansas if you or i dont get to laugh at this next week good luck and god speed

You mean all astronomers and all amateur astronomers around the world are in some conspiracy to hide the truth for us?

You think that is likely?

,

Edited February 15, 2013 by Abramelin

[Waspie_Dwarf]

Approach of Asteroid 2012 DA14 from Samford Valley Observatory

This movie from the Samford Valley Observatory in Brisbane, Australia, shows the progress of asteroid 2012 DA14 across the night sky as it nears its closest approach. It was taken at 12:59 UTC on Feb. 15 (7:59 a.m. EST, or 4:59 a.m. PST). The movie has been sped up 50 times.

Credit: J. Bradshaw

› Asteroid and Comet Watch site

Source: NASA - Multimedia

[Waspie_Dwarf]

Approach of Asteroid 2012 DA14 as Seen by Murrumbateman Observatory

Movie from the Murrumbateman Observatory in Australia of asteroid 2012 DA14 during its close -- but safe -- flyby of Earth. The images were taken around 17:18 UTC (12:18 p.m. EST, or 9:18 a.m. PST) on Feb. 15, 2013.

Image credit: D. Herald

› Asteroid and Comet Watch site

Source: NASA - Multimedia

[Waspie_Dwarf]

Gingin Observatory Spots Near-Earth Asteroid

This movie shows the asteroid 2012 DA14 flying safely by Earth, as seen by the Gingin Observatory in Australia at 9:50 a.m. PST (12:50 p.m. EST/17:50 UTC), Feb. 15, 2013.

At the time of its closest approach to Earth, at approximately 11:25 a.m. PST (2:25 p.m. EST/19:25 UTC), the asteroid will be about 17,150 miles (27,600 kilometers) above Earth's surface.

The asteroid appears streaked because the telescope was focused on the stars while the asteroid passed through the field of view.

Image courtesy of Gingin Observatory/Tonello

› Asteroid and Comet Watch site

Source: NASA - Multimedia

[Waspie_Dwarf]

Gingin Observatory Spots Near-Earth Asteroid at Closest Approach

Observatory in Australia around the time of its closest approach, 11:24:42 a.m. PST (2:24:42 p.m. EST, or 19:24:24 UTC), Feb. 15, 2013.

At that time, the asteroid was about 17,150 miles (27,600 kilometers) above Earth's surface.

The asteroid appears streaked because the telescope was focused on the stars while the asteroid passed through the field of view.

Images courtesy of Gingin Observatory/Tonello

› Asteroid and Comet Watch site

Source: NASA - Multimedia

[AsteroidX]

I thought it was cool they predicted 17,200miles and thats exactly how close it came.