A photo from open sources
Asteroid 2004 BL86, which humanity was waiting for almost two centuries (after discovery back in the 19th century) finally rushed today past our planet, leaving a “definite mark”, interesting for both scientists and amateur astronomers.
Frankly, in danger from this space nobody believed the object, and the asteroid, as expected, passed from Earth at a relatively (by Earth standards) large distance – about three times larger than from us to the moon. However it is there was a maximum rapprochement (a little over a million kilometers), thanks to which scientists were able to well study a passing object, which crucial in collision risk prediction with similar asteroids in the future.
So, according to NASA scientists, the 2004 BL86 diameter turned out to be somewhat smaller, that is, only three hundred meters, although earlier astronomers called the figure of five hundred.
If we talk about the rotation of the asteroid around its own axis, then day on it should fly in just two and a half hours. Scientists have determined the speed of flight at 56,300 kilometers per hour.
Interesting fact: the 2004 BL86 object had its own satellite, with a diameter of just over fifty meters. According to space explorers, such asteroids rarely have satellites, such a probability does not exceed seventeen percent. So that the current transit guest of the earth turned out to be extremely rich – with appendage.
Pictures taken from the closest distance from Earth to flying object, showed that for 2004 BL86 there are volcanoes, and in the middle there is a hill like a ridge, which is why outwardly an asteroid looks like a cupcake.
The maximum approximation of a fairly large space object with our planet has allowed a very detailed study of the asteroid. On the Based on the data, NASA, for example, plans to deploy mission to search for large asteroids – in order to secure our planet from possible space disasters. In this regard, there is also a private project by former NASA astronaut Edward Lou, during which launching a unique infrared telescope into space, capable of detecting any asteroids, even relatively small ones – and at a great distance from the Earth. So flying past Earth 2004 BL86 was interesting for the team of Edward Lou. Not without even lovers watched him with curiosity and self-interest …
The video captures a flying asteroid 2004 BL86 at a time when next to it we distinguish a satellite. You can also admire amateur shooting of the starry sky, which is also visible a floating asteroid.
NASA
