WASHINGTON: A big near-Earth asteroid will pass safely via our planet on September 1, at a distance of 7 million kilometres, or about 18 Earth-Moon distances, according to NASA.
Asteroid Florence is one of the greatest near-Earth asteroids that are several miles is size. Measurements from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope and NEOWISE project point out it is about 4.4 kilometres in size.
"While many known asteroids have passed by closer to Earth than Florence will on September 1, all of those were estimated to be smaller," mentioned Paul Chodas, supervisor of NASA's Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS).
"Florence is the largest asteroid to pass by our planet this close since the NASA programme to detect and track near-Earth asteroids began," Chodas mentioned.
This somewhat close come upon supplies a possibility for scientists to check this asteroid up close. Florence is expected to be a very good target for ground-based radar observations, NASA mentioned.
The ensuing radar pictures will display the actual size of Florence and likewise may reveal floor details as small as about 10 metres.
Asteroid Florence used to be found out via Schelte Bus at Siding Spring Observatory in Australia in March 1981. It is called in honour of Florence Nightingale, the founder of recent nursing.
This yr's come upon is the closest via the asteroid since 1890 and the closest it's going to ever be until after 2500, according to the US space agency.
Florence will brighten to ninth magnitude in past due August and early September, when it's going to be visual in small telescopes for several nights as it moves through the constellations Piscis Austrinus, Capricornus, Aquarius and Delphinus.
Asteroid Florence is one of the greatest near-Earth asteroids that are several miles is size. Measurements from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope and NEOWISE project point out it is about 4.4 kilometres in size.
"While many known asteroids have passed by closer to Earth than Florence will on September 1, all of those were estimated to be smaller," mentioned Paul Chodas, supervisor of NASA's Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS).
"Florence is the largest asteroid to pass by our planet this close since the NASA programme to detect and track near-Earth asteroids began," Chodas mentioned.
This somewhat close come upon supplies a possibility for scientists to check this asteroid up close. Florence is expected to be a very good target for ground-based radar observations, NASA mentioned.
The ensuing radar pictures will display the actual size of Florence and likewise may reveal floor details as small as about 10 metres.
Asteroid Florence used to be found out via Schelte Bus at Siding Spring Observatory in Australia in March 1981. It is called in honour of Florence Nightingale, the founder of recent nursing.
This yr's come upon is the closest via the asteroid since 1890 and the closest it's going to ever be until after 2500, according to the US space agency.
Florence will brighten to ninth magnitude in past due August and early September, when it's going to be visual in small telescopes for several nights as it moves through the constellations Piscis Austrinus, Capricornus, Aquarius and Delphinus.
Big asteroid to pass safely by Earth on Sep 1: NASA
![Big asteroid to pass safely by Earth on Sep 1: NASA]()
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October 24, 2017
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