Space objects getting closer: As scientists welcome samples from asteroid Ryugu, NASA sounds alarm over 5 incoming rocks

The Center for Near Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) has clocked five asteroids headed toward Earth’s vicinity each measuring over 20 meters in diameter, starting with the 21-meter 2020 XB1 which will fly past the planet at a safe distance of 3.1 million kilometers (considered ‘close’ by astronomical standards) on December 7.
Then on Tuesday, December 8, 2018 PK21 (22 meters), and the 33-meter 2020 WK3 (roughly half the wingspan of a 747 jet) will shoot past at 4.6 and 3.8 million kilometers respectively.
The very next day, with a diameter roughly half the height of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, the 26-meter 2020 XD will fly by at 4.8 million kilometers.
Bringing up the rear on December 11 will be asteroid 2020 VC7, measuring a
whopping 55 meters or the same height as the Leaning Tower of Pisa at a
distance of 5.6 million kilometers.
While all of these
(relatively) close calls are underway, researchers with the Japan Aerospace
Exploration Agency (JAXA) will be analyzing the world's first asteroid
subsurface samples, which landed safely in the Australian Outback this weekend
and may provide clues about the origin of the solar system and the arrival of
life on Earth.
Capsule collection! The helicopter team immediately flew to the location identified by the DFS team. They searched for the fallen capsule by using radio waves and maps. Thank you very much!
— HAYABUSA2@JAXA (@haya2e_jaxa) December 6, 2020
(Collection Team M)#Hayabusa2#はやぶさ2#AsteroidExplorerHayabusa2 #HAYA2Report pic.twitter.com/KSyEbnU3Yd
Japanese astronaut, Soichi Noguchi, who is now on a six-month mission on board the ISS, tweeted to say he had spotted the capsule on its way down to Earth as it flew past the station.
“Just spotted #hayabusa2 from #ISS! Unfortunately not bright enough for handheld camera, but enjoyed watching capsule!” a jubilant Noguchi said.
The subsurface rock, which scientists hope will be largely unaffected by space radiation, will undergo a preliminary safety inspection at an Australian lab before being shipped to Japan.
“We will examine whether Ryugu is a potential source of organic matter and water on Earth when the solar system was forming, and whether these still remain intact on the asteroid,” Australian National University space rock expert Trevor Ireland said.
Source: rt.com
Comments