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Asteroid just rushes past Earth - closer than the moon

2020-08-13T13:16:11.245Z


Another space phenomenon occurs at the beginning of September. The steroid "2011 ES4" only rushes past the earth - closer than the moon.


Another space phenomenon occurs at the beginning of September. The steroid "2011 ES4" only rushes past the earth - closer than the moon.

  • On September 1st, the asteroid "2011 ES4" hisses past Earth.
  • It comes closer to our planet than the moon .
  • The researchers at the German Aerospace Center even take the liberty of joking.

Munich - In July, everyone was talking about the comet "Neowise" . The tail star could be admired all over the world, and one or the other curious photo of the natural spectacle was also taken.

It has now faded. While those interested will have to wait around 6,800 years for the next opportunity to see “Neowise” again, other space phenomena are inevitable this summer .

Space phenomena 2020: Perseids follow comet “Neowise” - then an asteroid comes very close

The Perseids reach their climax on the night of August 12th to 13th. With the annual meteor shower , up to 100 shooting stars can be observed per hour . For many astro fans a must-see highlight in summer.

Not long afterwards the next all-spectacle takes place. Asteroid "2011 ES4" will whiz past the earth. The celestial body comes noticeably close to the earth.

Asteroid "2011 ES4" races just past the earth: "Don't lean too far out of the window"

" Please don't lean too far out of the window on September 1st, " jokes even the German Aerospace Center (DLR). Once again, a mini-asteroid whizzes just past our earth .

On September 1st, please do not lean too far out of the window: A mini-asteroid is zooming past the earth pretty close. https://t.co/wvnDBNNsE3 pic.twitter.com/yh6uL3t29o

- DLR_next (@DLR_next) August 9, 2020

"2011 ES4" even comes closer to our planet than the moon . It approaches about 130,000 kilometers. That is about a third of the distance between Earth and its known cosmic companion.

Asteroid comes closer to earth than the moon: size can only be estimated - there is no danger

There is no cause for concern. The diameter of the asteroids is estimated to be 22 to 49 meters . Since only a few measurements have taken place, the exact size cannot be determined, explains DLR researcher Manfred Gaida of the German Press Agency .

Such " close movements ", as it happens once again, are a well-known phenomenon. On average, 2.4 asteroids pass within the lunar orbit every year .

The collision of an asteroid with the earth is also still conceivable this year. "VP1 2018" rushes towards our blue ball and could hit it on November 2nd . However, it is very small, which is why the chances are very small that it will not simply burn up in the atmosphere.

List of rubric lists: © - / ESA / P.Carril / dpa

Source: merkur

All news articles on 2020-08-13

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