Dangerous but beautiful: An asteroid we still don't want to meet

27 August 2013 04:18 am - 0 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A A A

NASA camera snaps image of the potentially hazardous near-Earth object known as 1998 KN3 as it makes its way past the Orion Nebula.

If you spent your time worrying about the number of asteroids and comets getting relatively close to our planet, you likely wouldn't log much sleep given that astronomers now have detected more than 10,000 so-called near-Earth objects (NEOs) flying through space.

What we're talking about is an assortment of objects varying in size -- from a few feet to as wide as 25 miles in diameter -- that approach within about 28 million miles of Earth's orbit. But while the risks of a planetary collision exist, the probability is low. At least for now.

Still, it makes for fun watching. The latest NEO to command attention is a beaut'. NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer snapped this image of 1998 KN3 as it zipped past the Orion Nebula, some 1,500 to 1,600 light-years from Earth. In the picture, you can make out the asteroid as the yellow-green dot at the picture's upper left. NEO 1998 KN3 is fairly big, about .7 mile in diameter. That puts it in a select category, as only about 10 percent of NEOs measure larger than six-tenths of a mile.

The total numbers of NEOs likely will grow as scientific detection equipment gets more sophisticated. These sundry asteroids and comets have been out there, but it's only recently that we were able to find them. For instance, the first NEO was identified in 1898, but only 500 got logged by astronomers over the next 100 years. It was only after NASA's NEO Observations program got underway in 1998 that serious numbers were detected.

(Source : news.cnet.com)

Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka

Comments - 0

Add comment
Comments will be edited (grammar, spelling and slang) and authorized at the discretion of Daily Mirror online. The website also has the right not to publish selected comments.

Dangerous but beautiful: An asteroid we still don't want to meet

Comments - 0

Add comment

RECOMMENDED

UDA owned land in Thalawathugoda; UDA Minister Prasanna Ranatunga under the spotlight for forceful occupation of reserved land

Loss-making SMIB faces political pressure in recovering loans

Baltimore Bridge Collapse: MV Dali, SL authorities anchored in mystery?

Has Sri Lanka become a potential hub for the illegal wildlife trade?

Spotlight on Moragahakanda Development Project Moragolla villagers lose livelihoods and down to one meal a day

Ambitious Sri Lankan jobseekers ‘trafficked into Ukraine war zones’

Western purple-faced langurs see blue!

Most Viewed in News

April 15 declared a government holiday

Complaint lodged over Piumi Hansamali's possession of Gota’s Range Rover

Former MP Palitha Thewarapperuma dies from electrocution

A US “Kaputa”, a Lankan “Nariya” and a Presidential “Feast”

New Visa procedure implemented

Street food vendor arrested for verbally harassing foreigner

MIRROR CRICKET

Chamari Athapaththu sets big goal for T20 World Cup

How does CSK get best out of Pathirana?

Mendis, Mathews move up in ICC Test Rankings

Chamodi, Dewmi spins Sri Lanka U19 Women to big win

TODAY'S HEADLINES

Wild elephants pull down 16 telephone poles

Middleman arrested for price gouging at Kalutara eatery

Bondholders’ agreement delay won’t hinder IMF third tranche payout: Dr. Coomaraswamy

Party leaders to shoot down MPs request for concessionary duty free vehicle permits

Hardik fined Rs 12 lakh for violating IPL code of conduct after win over Punjab Kings

Chamari Athapaththu sets big goal for T20 World Cup

How does CSK get best out of Pathirana?

Mendis, Mathews move up in ICC Test Rankings