CLOSE SHAVE BY AN ASTEROID TONIGHT

Hey Space Placers!

We will have a close call from an asteroid tonight (Oct 11/12)  that will pass well within the Moon's orbit at 26,000 miles above the Earth. It is similar in size to the Chelyabinsk asteroid that exploded over that city on 2/15/14 with over half a million tons of TNT explosive force.

This animation depicts the safe flyby of asteroid 2012 TC4 as it passes under Earth on Oct. 12, 2017.
This animation depicts the flyby of small asteroid 2012 TC4 as it passes under Earth. On Oct. 12 EDT (Oct. 11 PDT), 2012 TC4 will safely pass by Earth at a distance of approximately 26,000 miles (42,000 kilometers). Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

NASA and others will be testing the international asteroid warning network to see how well observations are coordinated.

More info here.

Viewers can tune in on line at 7:59 PM EDT 10/11/17.

Sky Guy in VA

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