Latest news with #2008DG5
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Watch an asteroid the size of an aircraft carrier make a close pass of Earth on June 5
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. A potentially hazardous asteroid roughly the size of an aircraft carrier is due to pass within 2.8 million miles (3.5 million km) of Earth on June 5 and you can watch it happen live online. NASA and its partners have been tracking the potentially hazardous asteroid 2008 DG5 ever since its discovery in (you guessed it) 2008 by the Catalina Sky Survey. The Center for Near Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) estimates it to have a diameter ranging between 1,049-2,296 ft (320-700 meters) - roughly the equivalent of the length of a Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier. The asteroid will make its closest approach to Earth at 7.59 p.m. ET (2359 GMT) on June 5, at which time it will pass 2,170,309 miles (3,492,787 kilometers) from our planet, over nine times the Earth-moon average orbital distance. At this range 2008 DG5 will be visible as a solitary point of light to powerful Earthbound telescopes. The Virtual Telescope Project will host a livestream of the flyby starting at 6 p.m. ET (2200 GMT) on June 5, featuring real-time views of 2008 DG5 captured by its suite of robotic telescopes. June 3 saw the project release an image of the asteroid captured from a distance of 2.2 million miles (3.6 million km) using the 17-inch PlaneWave telescope located in Manciano, Italy, as the asteroid cruised closer to Earth. 2008 DG5 can be picked out as a bright speck of light, with short star lines acting as a tell-tale sign of its movement against the static starfield beyond, created as the telescope tracked its position over a 120-second exposure. NASA classifies an asteroid as potentially hazardous based on a number of factors including its size and whether it will pass within 0.05 astronomical units of Earth - the equivalent of around 4,650,000 miles (7,480,000 km), according to the agency's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Over 1,784 PHAs are being actively tracked by the CNEOS, none of which are predicted to strike Earth and cause widespread damage in the coming century.
NDTV
2 days ago
- Climate
- NDTV
Asteroid Larger Than Golden Gate Bridge Approaches Earth. What To Know
New Delhi: A massive asteroid, expected to be larger than San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge, will pass close to Earth on June 5. Measuring between 1,017 and 2,264 feet, it is bigger than 97 per cent of asteroids and is among the top 3 per cent by size. According to scientists, Asteroid 424482 (2008 DG5) is estimated to come to around 3.49 million kilometres of earth but does not pose any threat. It will safely pass by without causing any damage, Forbes reported. The reason the asteroid doesn't pose any threat to the Earth is that it is about nine times farther away than the Moon, which normally orbits Earth at around 3.84 kilometres. However, NASA has referred to the 2008 DG5 as a potentially hazardous object for two characteristics: distance and size. NASA said that any object, larger than about 500 meters, which comes within 7.5 kilometres of Earth could collide with our planet. As of now, there is no threat from 2008 DG5 to Earth but if an asteroid of this size hits, it can cause serious regional damage. It could create strong shockwaves and even tsunamis if it hit water. For example, in 2008, a Tunguska Event happened when a smaller asteroid of about 130 ft exploded in the air over Siberia, causing massive fires and destroying 80 million trees. Other than this, the Chicxulub asteroid, believed to have contributed to the extinction of the dinosaur, was six to ten miles (10 to 15 kilometres) wide. 2008 DG5 is an Apollo asteroid, meaning it passes through Earth's orbit. It was spotted in 2008 by the Catalina Sky Survey, a component of NASA's Near Earth Object Observation Program, near Tucson, Arizona. It completes one round around the sun every 514 Earth days. It will come close to Earth again in the year 2032. Earlier, NASA reported that asteroid 2024 YR4, about the size of the Statue of Liberty, might cause damage to the Earth. It has the potential to release energy 100 times more powerful than the Hiroshima bomb if it hits Earth.
Economic Times
3 days ago
- Climate
- Economic Times
Asteroid bigger than the Empire State Building to fly by Earth this week: What if it strikes?
ESA Labels It 'Infrequent' Due to Size and Distance Origins and Discovery of Asteroid 2008 DG5 Live Events Potential Consequences of a Hypothetical Impact Recent Close Call: The Case of Asteroid 2024 YR4 FAQs What is asteroid 2008 DG5? When will asteroid 2008 DG5 pass by Earth? (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel In a rare astronomical occurrence, an asteroid larger than the Golden Gate Bridge or the Empire State building is expected to make a safe pass by Earth on Thursday, June 5, 2025. The asteroid, formally designated 424482 (2008 DG5), is estimated to measure between 310 to 690 metres (1,017 to 2,264 feet), placing it among the largest 3% of known asteroids, according to data from its massive size, the asteroid poses no threat to Earth. The object will pass at a distance of 2.17 million miles (3.49 million kilometres)—approximately nine times farther than the Moon, which orbits Earth at an average distance of 238,855 miles (384,400 km), as mentioned in a report by the flyby may seem distant in terrestrial terms, the European Space Agency (ESA) has termed the event 'infrequent' owing to the asteroid's scale and relatively close approach. According to international standards, any object over 492 feet (150 metres) in diameter passing within 4.6 million miles (7.4 million kilometres) is categorized as a 'potentially hazardous object.' Thus, 2008 DG5 falls within that classification, despite no danger of 2008 DG5 belongs to the Apollo group of asteroids, known for orbits that intersect Earth's path around the Sun. The object completes a full solar orbit roughly every 514 Earth days. It was first spotted in 2008 by astronomers from the Catalina Sky Survey, an Arizona-based observatory operating under NASA's Near-Earth Object Observation next anticipated close approach of this asteroid will not occur until 2032, marking this year's flyby as a rare chance for researchers and skywatchers to monitor such a sizable near-Earth object, as per the Forbes 2008 DG5 will pass harmlessly, astronomers often talk about the potential consequences of similar objects entering Earth's atm osphere. An asteroid of this size could cause widespread regional devastation, generating shockwaves, fires, or tsunamis depending on the impact draw a comparison, NASA cites the Tunguska event of 1908, caused by an asteroid only 130 feet (40 metres) wide, which devastated over 2,000 square kilometres of Siberian forest. At the extreme end, the Chicxulub impact, believed to have wiped out the dinosaurs, involved an asteroid estimated at 10 to 15 kilometres in this year, a separate asteroid known as 2024 YR4 made headlines after early predictions suggested a possible impact on December 22, 2032. The object, which is approximately 130 to 300 feet in diameter—about as tall as the Statue of Liberty—initially presented a 3.1% chance of collision, the highest ever recorded for an asteroid of that Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) in Chile first detected 2024 YR4 on December 27, 2024, triggering widespread concern. However, after further analysis, NASA's Center for Near-Earth Object Studies announced on February 24 that the probability of impact had dropped to near zero. Asteroid 2008 DG5 is a massive near-Earth object belonging to the Apollo group of asteroids, which are known for their Earth-crossing orbits. It measures between 310 to 690 meters (1,017 to 2,264 feet), placing it among the top 3% of the largest known asteroid is expected to make its closest approach to Earth on Thursday, June 5, 2025.
Time of India
3 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Asteroid bigger than the Empire State Building to fly by Earth this week: What if it strikes?
ESA Labels It 'Infrequent' Due to Size and Distance Origins and Discovery of Asteroid 2008 DG5 Live Events Potential Consequences of a Hypothetical Impact Recent Close Call: The Case of Asteroid 2024 YR4 FAQs What is asteroid 2008 DG5? When will asteroid 2008 DG5 pass by Earth? (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel In a rare astronomical occurrence, an asteroid larger than the Golden Gate Bridge or the Empire State building is expected to make a safe pass by Earth on Thursday, June 5, 2025. The asteroid, formally designated 424482 (2008 DG5), is estimated to measure between 310 to 690 metres (1,017 to 2,264 feet), placing it among the largest 3% of known asteroids, according to data from its massive size, the asteroid poses no threat to Earth. The object will pass at a distance of 2.17 million miles (3.49 million kilometres)—approximately nine times farther than the Moon, which orbits Earth at an average distance of 238,855 miles (384,400 km), as mentioned in a report by the flyby may seem distant in terrestrial terms, the European Space Agency (ESA) has termed the event 'infrequent' owing to the asteroid's scale and relatively close approach. According to international standards, any object over 492 feet (150 metres) in diameter passing within 4.6 million miles (7.4 million kilometres) is categorized as a 'potentially hazardous object.' Thus, 2008 DG5 falls within that classification, despite no danger of 2008 DG5 belongs to the Apollo group of asteroids, known for orbits that intersect Earth's path around the Sun. The object completes a full solar orbit roughly every 514 Earth days. It was first spotted in 2008 by astronomers from the Catalina Sky Survey, an Arizona-based observatory operating under NASA's Near-Earth Object Observation next anticipated close approach of this asteroid will not occur until 2032, marking this year's flyby as a rare chance for researchers and skywatchers to monitor such a sizable near-Earth object, as per the Forbes 2008 DG5 will pass harmlessly, astronomers often talk about the potential consequences of similar objects entering Earth's atm osphere. An asteroid of this size could cause widespread regional devastation, generating shockwaves, fires, or tsunamis depending on the impact draw a comparison, NASA cites the Tunguska event of 1908, caused by an asteroid only 130 feet (40 metres) wide, which devastated over 2,000 square kilometres of Siberian forest. At the extreme end, the Chicxulub impact, believed to have wiped out the dinosaurs, involved an asteroid estimated at 10 to 15 kilometres in this year, a separate asteroid known as 2024 YR4 made headlines after early predictions suggested a possible impact on December 22, 2032. The object, which is approximately 130 to 300 feet in diameter—about as tall as the Statue of Liberty—initially presented a 3.1% chance of collision, the highest ever recorded for an asteroid of that Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) in Chile first detected 2024 YR4 on December 27, 2024, triggering widespread concern. However, after further analysis, NASA's Center for Near-Earth Object Studies announced on February 24 that the probability of impact had dropped to near zero. Asteroid 2008 DG5 is a massive near-Earth object belonging to the Apollo group of asteroids, which are known for their Earth-crossing orbits. It measures between 310 to 690 meters (1,017 to 2,264 feet), placing it among the top 3% of the largest known asteroid is expected to make its closest approach to Earth on Thursday, June 5, 2025.
Forbes
3 days ago
- General
- Forbes
Asteroid Larger Than Golden Gate Bridge Approaches Earth In Rare Event
An asteroid that may be as big as the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco will fly safely by Earth on Thursday, June 5, 2025. Bigger than 97% of asteroids, for such a large object to come close to Earth is a relatively rare event, but asteroid 424482 (2008 DG5) won't pose any threat. Asteroid 424482 (2008 DG5) is about 1,017-2,264 feet (310-690 meters) in size, which puts it in the top 3% of asteroids, according to In Manhattan, that's the distance from Grand Central Station to the One World Trade Center. It will come within 2.17 million miles (3.49 million kilometers) of Earth, about nine times farther than the moon. The moon is, on average, 238,855 miles/384,400 kilometers from Earth. That may not sound close — and it certainly poses no danger to Earth — but the European Space Agency classes such a close pass of such a large asteroid as "infrequent." Any object that comes within 4.6 million miles of Earth and is larger than 492 feet is capable of causing significant regional damage in the event of impact. 2008 DG5 is therefore referred to as a 'potentially hazardous object' by NASA. 2008 DG5 is an Apollo asteroid, which means its orbital pass crosses Earth's. It orbits the sun every 514 Earth days and was discovered in 2008 by the Catalina Sky Survey near Tucson, Arizona, part of NASA's Near Earth Object Observation Program. 2008 DG5's next close approach will be in 2032. It poses no danger to Earth, but if an asteroid the size of 2008 DG5 did strike Earth, it could cause catastrophic regional damage, possibly causing shockwaves and tsunamis. For context, the 'Tunguska Event' in 1908, which saw a fireball, massive forest fires and 80 million trees knocked over, according to NASA, was caused by an asteroid just 130 feet (40 meters) in diameter in size exploding six miles above Siberia. At the other end of the scale, the Chicxulub asteroid that's thought to have caused the dinosaur's extinction was six to 10 miles (10 to 15 kilometers) wide. 2024 YR4, an asteroid about 130 to 300 feet (40 to 90 meters) in diameter — as wide as the Statue of Liberty is tall — was a significant news story earlier this year when astronomers calculated it would strike Earth on Dec. 22, 2032. In the weeks after its discovery on Dec. 27, 2024, by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System in Chile, 2024 YR4 was thought to be destined to strike Earth along a 'risk corridor' calculated as stretching from the eastern Pacific Ocean through northern South America, the Atlantic Ocean, Africa, the Arabian Sea and South Asia. At one point, NASA's Center for Near-Earth Object Studies had the asteroid's impact probability at 3.1% — the highest ever recorded for an object of that size — but on Feb. 24, it reduced the likelihood of an impact event almost to zero.
