Live Blog: Asteroid 2012 DA14 approaches Earth
It's not going to crash here, but it's still exciting! An asteroid made its closest pass by Earth at around 2:24 p.m. ET, flying about 17,200 miles above Earth’s surface. It’s estimated to be about 150 feet (45 meters) across with an estimated mass of 130,000 metric tons.
The flyby was the closest ever predicted for an object this large, according to NASA. The asteroid, called 2012 DA14, flew between Earth and the satellites that ring the planet 22,200 miles up.
Scientists think there may be 500,000 asteroids the size of 2012 DA14, but fewer than 1% have been located.
NASA says the asteroid is entirely unrelated to the meteor that exploded over Russia Friday.
Check back for live updates beginning at 2 p.m.
2:27 p.m. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory will continue to stream images at http://www.ustream.tv/nasajpl2. More information is available at http://www.nasa.gov/asteroidflyby.
2:25 p.m. We survived! The asteroid has passed its closest approach, and is now heading away from Earth.
2:24 p.m. Paul Chodas is back. He says the orbit will shrink a little. It could make a close approach again in the year 2046. We can predict its path through most of the 21st century, he says.
2:20 p.m. Lance Benner from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory talks about the Goldstone Solar System Radar, which is useful in measuring the size, shape, rotation state. Scientists want to better understand its motion.
The asteroid appears to rotate about once every six hours, he says. "It's conceivable that it could be somewhat larger or smaller" than the estimate of 150 feet. He'll be heading out in about an hour to get more data about this space rock.
2:14 p.m. A visualization tool called Eyes on the Solar System uses data on DA14 to track the asteroid in real time. You can visit this website to look around the entire solar system in an interactive way, including the asteroid.
2:10 p.m. Talking about the Russian meteor: The two events are unrelated. "It's simply a coincidence" that they happened to come near the Earth on the same day.
An amateur group in Spain spotted the 2012 DA14 asteroid. NASA-funded surveys have found 95% of near-Earth objects.
The Gingin observatory is observing the streaking of the asteroid. It's amazing how bright the asteroid is on its approach, says Paul Chodas of the Near Earth Object team. The reason it streaks: It moves during the time exposure of the telescope, he says.
Auriol Heary at the Gingin Observatory in Australia says there are very clear skies. "The Milky Way is so clear you can almost touch it."
2:04 p.m. If you're in Eastern Europe, Asia or Australia, you could see this object with binoculars or a telescope, says NASA's Don Yeomans, who gave CNN a Science Seat interview this week.
2 p.m. NASA says we know the closest approach of this asteroid will be about 2:25 p.m., but "closest approach" takes hours. From that point on, it will be flying away from the planet. NASA is showing images, both from hobbyists in Australia.
The Gingin Observatory, near the town of Perth, Australia, on the Western side, is capturing a great view of the asteroid moving.
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This might look cool but it is not.
Danica is more fast then those Aseroids, any way, if the rest of the world go Kaput and Danika is OK, I am ok to...
Well this is bit to stupid, first of all, we all just wait to get hit by the mister right one.....
It is not it will, or not, it is inevetablle, it will happen one day... That day will come, but it is the question what we will do about that... Obama, Putin, Merkel and others are not for real... It is bit funny,
DA2012 is 50 yards wide and 130 thousand metric tons.
The meteor that hit Sibiera was smaller with a weight of 7 tons.
we need to spend more money on space exploration. if anything large ever hits us,it may be the end of us all.
If it was to hit us......we would have never been told.
I hope this would calm the Russians and nations near it.....
Ah, the arrogance of Christians. Thinking that it's only possible for their religion to exist.
NASA story was wrong, can we trust NASA story next time ?.
As the men with "Big Brains" have determined: absolute velocity and absolute position are nonsensical terms. I suspect that the very tiny asteroid beings must have been really scared when the earth came flying by so fast with all those appliances sitting around in the nearby space, and now they are faced with zooming into the giant lBBQ. We should all have compassion for the tiny beings that inhabit asteroids. Some day, all life will go extinct, said a "Big Brain." I feel compelled to add my sarcasm to those who adjudicate themselves professed in the science of extemporaneous hyperbole. It worked for me when I ran my lab, and now I am running a wheelchair. What do I know? I am just a particle.
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The solar system is throwing rocks at the earth. I think it is trying to tell us something
We have been pelted like this or more for a very long time, like many millions of years. We are just now getting smart enough to realize what is going on, I think, maybe, Hope so etc.
I will say "Ni" to you! Prepare for your doom!
Wow. good thing this NEOdidn't hit its mark
kaboom(almost)
well, thus just too far from the earth, no need to worry at all anyway
well, thus just too far from the earth, no need to worry at all
the earth most surely come to an end you know not science can stop it
Its prophecy, you know where it says there will be signs in the heavens, one for GOD, Zero for science.
I don't think that's quite exactly what it says. Besides, if it weren't for science, you wouldn't even know the asteroid was there.
like wow. Science rocks don't deny it
science is the root of all the world. think how much we wouldn't know without it
Yes. First chapters of genesis state the stars and what is in heaven is for signs and seasons. Amazing that human science could be tracking an asteroid, yet be shocked by an unknown, unrelated meteorite instead. Goes to show God is in control of everything. Science included.
for "Hi" et al. their post was: science is the root of all the world. think how much we wouldn't know without it.
Surely true, But it is Science that is helping us to understand God and all his creations. I love learning about both Science and God since they go Hand in Hand and cannot be separated.
I agree but you also forgot the spagetti monster
Paul Chodas says It could make a close approach again in the year 2046... as long as Chuck Norris says it's ok
Quite an interesting day. Hope we can get better explanations because we are still not to cleared.
OKAY WHOS GOING TO MAKE THE NEXT MOVIE OUT OF THIS ONE; I WAS THINKING..KATT WILLIAMS,ICE CUBE ,TERRY CREWS MIIKE EPPS
Any chance of latching a shuttle on to one of these massive asteroids and getting a free ride to say, Mars?
DRAAKSTEKER I LIKE UR SENCE OF HUMOR LOLOLOLOLOLOLMAO
Is you "Caps lock" key stuck in the "shout" position?
But....I just drank a funny tasting cool-aid after my church pastor told me to duck? You mean, we aren't all going to be judged today? Oh...feeling sleepy now. I'll chat more when I wake up....zzzzzzzz.
ARE U A BELIEVER NOW THATS FUNNY
Tunguska in 1908 and another big one in 2013. Hmm. That country can't catch a break. 2 big meteorites in 100 years is kind of a long shot.
ALPHA DUES NEEDS TO STAY OUT OF CONVERSATION HE SUGGEST IT LANDS IN KOREA.AS TO HIM "THEY" HAVE SUGGESTED IT TO HAVE LANDED THERE
And this all happened on Obama's watch??? ...............just kidding people!!
I have a question? If the meteor that hit Russia is not related to the Asteroid that just passed us...then where in the hell did it come from? That's the one we have to worry about....
An asteroid?! Ain't nobody got time for dat!
funny!
WHAT EVER HAIR IS LEFT IM SURE IT WILL REMEMBER THIS DAY
Wow...I felt the wind go through my thinning hair!
TO THE DOOMSDAY PEOPLE; YOUR TIME HAS COME
I lost internet connection for a couple of minutes right as it passed by. I suspect it may have interfered with a communication satellite.
The universe should keep it's crap to itself.
That would include human beings.
So... what are you, a goat?
That is 'God power ' oh God keep this earth
imagine if this hit on december 20th peple would be going crazy and i would be in laughter
no kidding
Thanks to the NRA for deflecting this meteor with all their guns!
I was hoping for a little gravitational pull, or something.
When do the Zombies wake up???????????????
God was planning to destroy the earth with this asteroid but I prayed for Him to spare us. He did. Obviously prayer works.
why couldnt the people in the world get a clear live view of this thing from nasa or is this just the governments way of trying to cotroll the people in this world just like the ufo's
We did get a clear view, you just have to be intelligent enough to know how to have found it 😉
Some are suggesting it may have directly hit north korea...but as yet nobody has noticed any difference
Thank you obomma for waiving your hand and deflecting this away from our planet–ALL HAIL OBAMMA!!
Already? What happened to missing the earth by 15 minutes tonight that all the news reports were talking about? Doesn't lend confidence that they knew what they were talking about.
The time refers to the approximate distance from Earth (the time, in its speed, that it would be away from Earth). It would be about 15 minutes away from Earth, as in it would take 15 minutes from its closest position to enter or strike the planet.
That is well within the orbit of the Moon, as well as within geosynchronous orbit of many satellites. EXTREMELY close. Happening now. You have to be on the night-side of Earth to be able to have a chance to sight and track it (going very, very fast)-but still viewable. About the brightness of a dim star.
But they ARE wrong about a great many things-and are constantly surprised by what's discovered. Not to mention often far too confident in their estimations. They've been 'surprised' countless times over the last several years.
Well that was anticlimactic...yawn
Aloha asteroid.
Aloha- means hello and goodbye.
no pasa por argentina la puto madree yo lo queria veeeer
How could it not have landed in Washington D.C? That city needs to be wiped off the face of the earth.
Dear ET's: I forgot the most important one:
Washington D. C. : 38.8900° N, 77.0300° W (as you requested)
WIll it be visible tonight in the United States? WIll there be an asteroid trail? WIll the Cubs ever WIN?
These questions, and many others, will be answered on the next episode of...."Soap"!
I think the answers to all of these questions is no. I am saddened by the last one, as I am a Cubs fan myself.
IF you hit rewind!
Please hit the middle east and then the white house. Thank you.
Then the NRA HQ, then the IRS, then.....
It has passed already you bunch os sleepers
Its all in the news.
That meteor that fall in Russia is part of the debris flying close to this asteriod.
So astronomers who said there was no chance it would hit earth were wrong. A small part of it fell in the Urals this morning
Except that it was travelling in the opposite direction, and not of enough mass to hold smaller pieces in it's orbit.
No cookie for you.
For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity.
"2:24 p.m. Paul Chodus is back. He says the orbit will shrink a little. It could make a close approach again in the year 2046. We can predict its path through most of the 21st century, he says."
Really? You can tell what effects all the other rocks, planets and suns are going to have on this rock over the next 87 years? I really doubt it and plan to be here to prove it.
Edmond Halley would disagree
"Or do you feel secure that He who [holds authority] in the heaven would not send against you a storm of stones? Then you would know how [severe] was My warning." (The Wise Qur'an, Chapter "The Sovereignty", Ayat (Sign) #17)
Idiot
Looks like meteors can hit us anytime without anybody having any advance knowlege ...as in Russia 🙁
I think that is true only in the case of small meteorites... those that are only a few meters wide.. if it is big enough to cause an impact damage, we would be able to see it.. as with da14.. its only 50meters wide and we were able to track it for the last few weeks..
...yes, however, looks like even a small (few ton) meteor can do a lots of damage
Dear ET's: here is the info you requested:
San Francisco 37.7750° N, 122.4183° W
This is your only warning! I kept my asteroid from striking your miserable planet this time, but I want $20 gazillion and good seats for the next Super Bowl or I'll drop it on London! And your foolish Mr Bond is trapped in a cage over a pit Boone's Farm wine and will soon suffer a disgraceful ending! BWAAA-HAA-HAAAAAA!
The Mayan's were extremely close...
Well, not exactly... Even if they were right and the asteroid did hit earth, by the size estimates its maximum damage would encompass a city's destruction. A far cry from the total planetary destruction/doom (purportedly) predicted by the Mayan calendar's end.
There was no doomsday event predicted according to the Maya, just a new age.
??? fool!
NASA TV...Please note...when you have a live event people want to SEE the live event not people TALKING about the live event...
must have to do with global warming-HAHAHAHA
This has nothing to do with climate change.
No broken satellites.
The Mayan's were extremely close.....
Close? Nothing happened. What do you mean exactly?
CNN... Unbelievable. I just spent hours waiting for this event on your station. Why would you cut away from this live event to talk about a murder and air commercials? Your program director is an idiot.
Idiot? LOL! Pot, meet kettle.
Did anyone even see anything on the NASA live sream? I didn't.... I was watching from 2:00 until now, and haven't seen a thing change on the screen.....
You missed me, you missed me, now you gotta kiss me! >SPLAT<
If they could see this one. How come they didn't see the one in Russia this morning?
Vodka.
Before it is too late,
Repent, the kingdom of God is near!!
Asteroid came, asteroid saw and the asteroid went with the promise of coming back again.
Someone at CNN please ask, will passing close by one of our satellites throw it out of its own orbit?
This is a hoax.
Maybe if the rocket scientists at Nasa would spend less time getting arrested in DC and swapping spit with Daryl Hannah, they would know when this space junk is coming down and provide some type of warning!
Missed!
OWWW, that burned, but I caught it in my old catchers mit. Anyone want to see it?
Not to worry, North Korea has everyone covered.
If it won't hit Earth, how come President Obama has left WH and been escorted to a secret location?
Can we put Obama and Biden on and fly them away???????
Stick to raising cattle, political jokes aren't your strong suit in the least.
can we put you on it
Sure...and can we include you everyone from your welfare state as well?
I don't think those 1000+ people in Rusiia are looking forward to another astroid passing close by...
"I don't wanna close my eyes....I don't wanna fall asleep, cuz I'd miss you baby, and I don't wanna miss a thiiiing!"
the impact crator is causing all the earth her to open up...many people and some small household animals are falling in! The trees are all on fire and the smoke is blinding! And walmart says they will stay open.
What was that.....
Will i be able to see if in New york?
help us I am burning alive here...the whole town is gone!
This is so cool ...lets hope funding is approved for the proposed telescope to identify these near Earth ones
So, when is Captain Kirk and Spock going to go inside the obelisk and fire the tractor beam?
Oh, Spock gave Kirk the Obelisk all right
Is it possible that the asteroid has smaller bodies orbiting around it? therefor explaining why the meteor over Russia came in from a different direction?
Is that you Mr. Jingleheimerchmidt?
no one can predict what god is capable of doing.
Roar
Kitty you apparently didn't pray enough.
Why do people have to bring a God into this? No God did this, and Asteroid just so happen to pass by.
everyone better start praying to God because noone truly knows how big this thing is. So start praying and repenting and then get ready to kiss the world as we know it good bye
Meow
@kitty give me all your belongings and I will guarantee you a safe passage to heaven on a spaceship
Oh my god it just hit here!! there are bodies everywhere and the trees are all on fire...I can barly breath with all the smoke.
Drama queen
Such drivel, grow up and quit believing in fairy tales.
Yes, it IS exciting! I still feel bad for those who were injured in Russia today. How horrifying! WHY didn't anyone predict that one?!???
Yes, why? I mean I can not think of one logical reason that no one predicited that meteor hitting Russia.
I hope Bruce Willis is on stand-by anyway...
Gone with the Asteroid.
Everyone duck!