Planets and Moons  Universe  ID: 11190

Asteroid Crossing

Story by Alex Kasprak Released on March 5, 2013
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A near-Earth flyby provides scientists with a rare, close-up view of an asteroid.
On February 15, 2013, an asteroid called 2012 DA14 raced through space a mere 17,200 miles from Earth's surface. Although the asteroid had no chance of hitting our planet, its approach was one of the closest ever recorded for a near-Earth object. Using one of NASA's Deep Space Network antennas, scientists created a series of radar images of the asteroid as it traveled away from Earth. These observations are essential for predicting its future trajectory. By analyzing the pixelated images scientists estimate the asteroid's length to be roughly 130 feet. On average, an object of that size crosses Earth's orbit at close range about once every 40 years. Watch the videos to see radar views of asteroid 2012 DA14 and a simulation of its near-Earth flyby.
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These radar images of asteroid 2012 DA14 (looped 9 times) were taken on the night of Feb. 15-16, 2013.
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This simulation of asteroid 2012 DA14's trajectory shows its close flyby of Earth.
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Astronomers at the La Sagra Sky Survey took these images of asteroid 2012 DA14. The asteroid was discovered in Feb. 2012.
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Asteroid 2012 DA14, shown in the white box, streaks in front of the Eta Carinae Nebula, traveling at about 17,400 mph.
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NASA's Goldstone Solar System Radar, located in California's Mojave Desert, captured the radar images of asteroid 2012 DA14.

Story Credits

Lead Writer:
Alex Kasprak (USRA)

Please give credit for this item to:
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center
Radar video and image courtesy of NASA/JPL-Caltech /GSSR
Simulation courtesy of NASA/JPL-Caltech
2012 DA14 images courtesy of La Sagra Sky Survey
Eta Carinae Nebula image courtesy of NASA/MSFC/Aaron Kingery
Radar antenna image courtesy of NASA/JPL-Caltech

Short URL to share this page:
https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/11190

Keywords:
SVS >> App
NASA Science >> Planets and Moons
NASA Science >> Universe