Read the Beforeitsnews.com story here. Advertise at Before It's News here.

By Alton Parrish (Reporter)
Contributor profile | More stories

Story Views
Now:
Last hour:
Last 24 hours:
Total:

Asteroid 2005 YU55, One Of 8,500 NEOs, Will Miss Earth And Moon As It Passes On Nov. 8-9

Sunday, November 6, 2011 16:24

% of readers think this story is Fact. Add your two cents.

Asteroid 2005 YU55 is one of about 8,500 near-Earth objects to be catalogued to date. What makes this space rock special is that its orbital path carries it safely past Earth within the moon’s orbit in early November 2011.

The trajectory of 2005 YU55 is well understood. At the point of closest approach, it will be no closer than 201,700 miles (324,600 kilometers), or 0.85 the distance from the moon to Earth. The last time a space rock as big as 2005 YU55 came as close to Earth was in 1976, although astronomers did not know about the flyby at the time. The next known approach of an asteroid this large will be in 2028.

Animation of the trajectory for asteroid 2005 YU55 – November 8-9, 2011.

Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

NASA scientist plan to take full advantage of this cosmic opportunity. During tracking of 2005 YU55, scientists will use antennas at NASA’s Deep Space Network in Goldstone, Calif., and at Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico to bounce radio waves off the space rock. Radar echoes returned from the asteroid will be collected and analyzed. NASA scientists hope to obtain radar images of the asteroid from Goldstone as fine as about 7 feet (2 meters) per pixel. This should reveal a wealth of detail about the asteroid’s surface features, shape, dimensions and other physical properties.

This is not the first time 2005 YU55 has been in NASA’s crosshairs. The asteroid was “imaged” by the Arecibo Observatory on April 19, 2010. The space rock was about 2.3 million kilometers (1.5 million miles) from Earth at the time. A ghostly image with resolution of 7.5 meters (25 feet) per pixel was generated. It reveals 2005 YU55 as a roughly spherical object about 400 meters (1,300 feet) in size. It also revealed the asteroid is spinning slowly, with a rotation period of about 18 hours, and its surface is darker than charcoal at optical wavelengths.

“Eyes on the Solar System” is a 3-D environment full of real NASA mission data. Explore the cosmos from your computer. Hop on an asteroid. Fly with NASA’s Voyager 2 spacecraft. See the entire solar system moving in real time. It’s up to you. You control space and time.

Visit the Eyes on the Solar System homepage to learn more. (Requires a free browser plug-in.)

Already taken the tour? Jump in and start exploring the Solar System or various modules.

Data collected during Arecibo’s observation of 2005 YU55 allowed the Near-Earth Object Program Office at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., to accurately refine the space rock’s orbit. The gravitational influence of the asteroid will have no detectable effect on anything here on Earth, including our planet’s tides or tectonic plates. Although 2005 YU55 is in an orbit that regularly brings it to the vicinity of Earth (and Venus and Mars), the 2011 encounter with Earth is the closest this space rock has come for at least the last 200 years.

Archived Ustream Q&A broadcast from Nov. 1, 2011.

Watch now

Contacts and sources:
D.C. Agle
Asteroid YU55
Asteroids, Comets and Near Earth Objects
Stardust NeXT
EPOXI

Source:

Before It’s News® is a community of individuals who report on what’s going on around them, from all around the world.

Anyone can join.
Anyone can contribute.
Anyone can become informed about their world.

"United We Stand" Click Here To Create Your Personal Citizen Journalist Account Today, Be Sure To Invite Your Friends.

Before It’s News® is a community of individuals who report on what’s going on around them, from all around the world. Anyone can join. Anyone can contribute. Anyone can become informed about their world. "United We Stand" Click Here To Create Your Personal Citizen Journalist Account Today, Be Sure To Invite Your Friends.

LION'S MANE PRODUCT

Try Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend 60 Capsules

Mushrooms are having a moment. One fabulous fungus in particular, lion’s mane, may help improve memory, depression and anxiety symptoms. They are also an excellent source of nutrients that show promise as a therapy for dementia, and other neurodegenerative diseases. If you’re living with anxiety or depression, you may be curious about all the therapy options out there — including the natural ones.Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend has been formulated to utilize the potency of Lion’s mane but also include the benefits of four other Highly Beneficial Mushrooms. Synergistically, they work together to Build your health through improving cognitive function and immunity regardless of your age. Our Nootropic not only improves your Cognitive Function and Activates your Immune System, but it benefits growth of Essential Gut Flora, further enhancing your Vitality.

Our Formula includes: Lion’s Mane Mushrooms which Increase Brain Power through nerve growth, lessen anxiety, reduce depression, and improve concentration. Its an excellent adaptogen, promotes sleep and improves immunity. Shiitake Mushrooms which Fight cancer cells and infectious disease, boost the immune system, promotes brain function, and serves as a source of B vitamins. Maitake Mushrooms which regulate blood sugar levels of diabetics, reduce hypertension and boosts the immune system. Reishi Mushrooms which Fight inflammation, liver disease, fatigue, tumor growth and cancer. They Improve skin disorders and soothes digestive problems, stomach ulcers and leaky gut syndrome. Chaga Mushrooms which have anti-aging effects, boost immune function, improve stamina and athletic performance, even act as a natural aphrodisiac, fighting diabetes and improving liver function. Try Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend 60 Capsules Today. Be 100% Satisfied or Receive a Full Money Back Guarantee. Order Yours Today by Following This Link.