Asteroid that came close to Earth may not miss in 2079 | Daily Mail Online
House-sized asteroid that came 'damn close' to Earth this week may not miss our planet on its return visit in 2079
Yesterday, an asteroid estimated to be up to 100 feet wide made a close shave with Earth, as it soared past at a distance of just 27,000 miles above the surface – or, as some scientists have put it, 'damn close.'
The house-sized space rock, dubbed asteroid 2012 TC4, is about 30-100 feet (10-30 metres) in size, and flew by at just one-eighth of the distance between Earth and the moon.
While the asteroid missed our planet on this occasion, experts have warned that we may not be so lucky in the future.
During another pass in 2079, experts predict that there is a chance 2012 TC4 will smash into Earth, with odds of this happening placed at about one in 750.
House-sized asteroid that came 'damn close' to Earth this week may not miss our planet on its return visit in 2079
- Asteroid 2012 TC4 passed by Earth yesterday at 27,000 miles away
- It narrowly missed communications satellites orbiting 22,236 miles above Earth
- Its next 'close-approaches' to Earth will take place in 2019, 2050 and 2079
- It's expected to miss Earth in 2019 and 2050, but there's a chance it'll hit in 2079
- Experts say that the odds of an impact in 2079 are one in 750
Yesterday, an asteroid estimated to be up to 100 feet wide made a close shave with Earth, as it soared past at a distance of just 27,000 miles above the surface – or, as some scientists have put it, 'damn close.'
The house-sized space rock, dubbed asteroid 2012 TC4, is about 30-100 feet (10-30 metres) in size, and flew by at just one-eighth of the distance between Earth and the moon.
While the asteroid missed our planet on this occasion, experts have warned that we may not be so lucky in the future.
During another pass in 2079, experts predict that there is a chance 2012 TC4 will smash into Earth, with odds of this happening placed at about one in 750.
