Asteroid 2014 JO25: real flight over the Earth through the eyes of witnesses

Last night flew near Earth asteroid 2014 JO25 that could observe many of the inhabitants of the planet.

On the eve of NASA warned that the asteroid 2014 JO25 rushes to the Ground with unprecedented speed at 33.6 kilometers per second — about 121 thousand kilometers per hour. Which is several times faster than normal flying guests space this size. And the size of the approaching asteroid impressive - from 600 to 900 meters. Or even more — very accurate data yet. They plan to build in the coming days.

The first image blocks have been received. They produced astronomers using radar Observatory Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex in California. Plate with a diameter of 70 meters made it possible to capture the asteroid from different angles with a resolution of 7.5 meters per pixel. It is seen that it is similar to the peanuts, rotates, making one revolution in five hours.

Pictures taken with the radar in California.

Is a binary asteroid, consisting of two blocks connected by a thin bridge - reports Shantanu Naidu (Shantanu Naidu), which is responsible for NASA () using NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California for observation at the Observatory Goldstone. The diameter of the larger lumps — about 620 meters.

19, 20 and 21 April to observations connect radar Observatory in Puerto Rico - National Science Foundation's Arecibo Observatory. Its astronomers believe they will be able to get a clearer image of the asteroid.

As stated in NASA, 2014 JO25 not approaching closer to the Earth than 1.8 million kilometres, which is 4.6 distance to the moon (4,6 LD). And the following 500 years, the lump will not have much worry — that is, approaching a dangerous distance. However, astronomers believe this 2014 JO25 potentially hazardous asteroid because of its size and reach — space standards. Besides, you may find that the asteroid is not entirely binary — not connected by a thin neck, and simply consists of two masses attracted to each other. This happens a lot. With unpredictable behavior such as "Siamese twins."

It is known that the surface 2014 JO25 some abnormal - reflects light two times more intense than the Moon. Enthusiasts fantasized: what if flying to us not lump, and a spaceship. Say, its metal shell and sparkles. However, the image of a celestial body received on Tuesday, April 18, dispelled the fantasy. It is clear that no space ship can be seen. Although what's the cause of the anomaly more clearly.

Translated by «Yandex.Translator»