Earth had a near-miss with 'city-killer' asteroid this morning

[Judi Lynn]

By Liam Mannix
July 25, 2019 — 2.59pm

An asteroid about 100 metres in diameter and racing at 24 kilometres a second has just missed the Earth.

The rock, called Asteroid 2019 OK, sped by our planet at 11.22am on Thursday, passing within about 70,000 kilometres – which is a long way away but closer to us than the moon’s orbit.

Due to the position of the asteroid – flying towards us from the direction of sun – astronomers had no warning it was headed our way.

It is the largest rock to fly at such close quarters to the Earth this year, and possibly for many years.

Astronomers believe it is between 57 and 130 metres in diameter.

Telescopes only began to pick it up a couple of days ago, with a confirmation it was an asteroid only coming in the past 24 hours.

More:
https://www.theage.com.au/national/earth-had-a-near-miss-with-city-killer-asteroid-this-morning-20190725-p52apn.html

[applegrove]

1. This beach ball sized meteor broke apart near ottawa last night. Hope that means

the odds are against us getting another in this location soon.


https://globalnews.ca/news/5679214/fireball-meteor-ontario-quebec-western-university/

[Judi Lynn]

5. Whoa! Certainly hope so. Thanks. n/t

[liberaltrucker]

2. Missed it by *that* much

[Judi Lynn]

4. Great graphic! Thank you.

[progree]

3. 70,000 km (44,000 miles) - about 1/5 the distance to the moon n/t

passing within about 70,000 kilometres – which is a long way away but closer to us than the moon’s orbit.

[Judi Lynn]

6. Thanks for the numbers. Yikes. n/t