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Arthur C. Clarke Centre calls for asteroid footages

20 October 2017 05:38 am - 6     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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The Arthur C. Clarke Centre yesterday requested the general public to handover original video footage or images of the asteroid, which entered the earth’s atmosphere Wednesday night for its observations.

Speaking to the Daily Mirror, the Centre's senior research scientist Saroj Gunasekera said that the Centre could come to a determination only after receiving original footages. He said that they had to determine the entry point of the asteroid.

“After making calculations, we can come to a decision of the asteroid as to how long it burns in the sky, and which direction it has come from,” he said.

He said that one could find if the asteroid was listed under the Potentially Hazardous Asteroids (PHAs) database listed by NASA, Gunasekera said.

According to the spaceweather.com website, there are 1847 Potentially Hazardous Asteroids.

“Though the recent asteroid is listed in the PHAs, it can change its direction. There are four more PHAs according to the list,” he said.

According to the website, 168-metre diameter asteroid is to pass the earth at a distance of 19.9 Lunar Distance (1 LD = 384,401 km) at a velocity of 19.2km/s.

Colombo University Physical Science Department Prof. Chandana Jayaratne yesterday confirmed that the bright light and sound heard in the Southern Province (SP) on Wednesday evening was because of an explosion caused by a meteorite. (Chaturanga Pradeep)


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  Comments - 6

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  • G.M. jayawardena Friday, 20 October 2017 09:20 AM

    This reminds the fall of the abandon Russian MIR space station some years back The authorities of the Russian arranged the atmosphere entry point to fall it into the ocean instead of land. It fell exactly the same way that this fallen object that has seen by some of the Srilankans... possibly a space debri like MIR..

    Roman Friday, 20 October 2017 12:37 PM

    SupremeSAT has laid foundation stone for the first 'Space Academy' at the Kandy BOI (Board of Investment). An investment of US$20 million on Space Academy, which is targeting to train Sri Lankans in space and satellite technology, will begin in 2013. Also, a satellite ground station is to be built in Kokkala area to oversee satellite operations??????????????? you guys aware of this??

    ColomboSam Friday, 20 October 2017 03:53 PM

    Headed by Prof. Rocket Rohitha???Must be a Diamond Foundation Stone ... Should be worth the Rs. 800 Million stolen by Rocket Rohitha to "Send the satellite to space" and "build the space station in Kandy" from CEB, EPF, TRC and other government bodies and then used the money to have fun activities like car racing!!!!

    ColomboSam Friday, 20 October 2017 12:50 PM

    Why dont someone get a professional opinion about this extra terrestrial matter from Sri Lankas first, foremost and only Deep Space, Satellite, Space Station, Space Science and Rocket Scientist Mr. Rocket Rohitha?? Maybe he tried to land his Rocket in Hambantota Airport :D

    Hiran Friday, 20 October 2017 02:49 PM

    Scary to think that these meteorites can sneak in undetected. Although NASA is likely to detect larger ones, smaller ones are hard to detect, especially if they come from the direction of the sun which will blind all space observing telescopes.

    SeriouSena Friday, 20 October 2017 08:06 PM

    Why not ACF ask our foremost scientist and local "rocket man" RohithaR for footage than harassing the public.


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