- A big asteroid handed by Earth in February 2024. At its closest level to Earth, it was 1.8 million miles (2.9 million km) away, almost 8 instances the moon’s distance.
- It was notable as a result of, on the 2024 go, scientists have been in a position to acquire radar photos of it, and to be taught essential information about its measurement, rotation, form and floor particulars.
- This asteroid – 2008 OS7 – is designated as a Close to-Earth Object (NEO). Meaning its closest level to the sun is concerning the distance of Earth’s orbit (lower than 1.3 Earth-sun distances) or much less. Thus 2008 OS7 and all NEOs carry a danger of a future collision with Earth.
Early final month, a big asteroid designated 2008 OS7 handed safely by Earth. At its closest, it was 1.8 million miles (2.9 million km) away. That’s about 7.5 instances the space between Earth and the moon. So there was no collision hazard from this asteroid in 2024, however it was of curiosity as a result of scientists at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, have been in a position to observe it intently because it handed by. Utilizing the highly effective 230-foot (70-meter) Goldstone Solar System Radar antenna situated within the desert close to Barstow, California, they obtained radar photos of the space rock. NASA released the photographs to the general public on February 26, 2024, saying information obtained within the 2024 go allowed scientists to find out the dimensions, rotation, form and floor particulars of 2008 OS7.
What we already knew about asteroid 2008 OS7
2008 OS7 is what astronomers name a Close to-Earth Object (NEO). In different phrases, its closest level to the sun is 1.3 astronomical models (AU, or Earth-sun distances). Such asteroids enter the realm of our solar system the place Earth orbits, and they also pose a possible hazard to Earth, carrying the danger of a future collision.
Word that 2008 OS7 was not a danger in February 2024. It handed by at a large distance this time.
Astronomers first found 2008 OS7 manner again on July 30, 2008; therefore, the “2008” in its designation. The NASA-funded Catalina Sky Survey (CSS), on the College of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona, was the primary to detect it in 2008. Subsequent observations led by Petr Pravec on the Astronomical Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences in Ondrejov, Czech Republic, confirmed that it rotated slowly, about as soon as each 29 1/2 hours. The researchers additionally studied the asteroid’s light curve in 2008. That’s, they studied delicate modifications within the brightness of the asteroid over time. Variations within the form of 2008 OS7 trigger the modifications in brightness.
By learning how a lot gentle was mirrored off the floor of this object, the astronomers have been in a position to acquire a tough estimate of its measurement. They stated they believed it was about 650 to 1,640 ft (200 to 500 meters) throughout.
February 2, 2024, shut strategy
The 2024 shut strategy to Earth of 2008 OS7 came about on February 2. The 2024 shut strategy supplied a chance so as to add to the earlier observations. This time, the researchers used the Goldstone Photo voltaic System Radar antenna in California to take an in depth have a look at 2008 OS7. They confirmed the sluggish rotation interval, but in addition discovered that the asteroid is smaller than first estimated. The brand new observations counsel it is just 500 to 650 ft (150 to 200 meters) vast.
The brand new photos and information additionally revealed extra detailed details about 2008 OS7’s floor. They confirmed that some components of the asteroid are rounded, whereas others are extra angular.
Scientists need to know 2008 OS7’s orbit (and the orbit of all NEOs) as exactly as attainable. The purpose is to watch them for any future potential impacts on Earth. The brand new radar observations helped to refine our data of the orbit of 2008 OS7. The asteroid orbits the sun each 2.6 years. At its closest to the sun, it comes inside the orbit of Venus. And, at its farthest, it goes out previous Mars.
The 2024 observations additionally proved that this object poses no instant hazard to Earth. The scientists discovered that 2008 OS7’s strategy in February is the closest it’ll come to Earth for a minimum of one other 200 years.
Generally, asteroids do hit Earth
On January 21, 2024, a small asteroid did hit Earth’s atmosphere over Germany. On February 5, scientists on the SETI Institute said that evaluation of meteoritic fragments confirmed the asteroid was a uncommon sort known as an aubrite.
Meteorites – or space rocks which have struck our environment and survived to succeed in Earth’s floor – usually have a skinny black outer crust, ensuing from their fiery passage via Earth’s environment. Aubrites, nevertheless, have a largely translucent and glassy crust.
The January 2024 asteroid was a lot smaller than 2008 OS7. It was solely about 3 ft (1 meter) throughout. And fairly than coming from the outer solar system, the scientists stated that it might need originated on the sun’s innermost planet, Mercury.
Backside line: NASA scientists used the Goldstone Photo voltaic System Radar in California to take photos of asteroid 2008 OS7 because it handed by Earth on February 2, 2024.
