World News – GB – An asteroid the size of a London bus missed us by 240 miles on Friday the 13th

Publish date: 12:22 GMT, 19 November 2020 | Updated: 17:33 GMT, 19 November 2020

Astronomers revealed that an asteroid the size of a London bus missed Earth by only 240 miles (386 km) on Friday the 13th – but was not discovered until the next day. .

The space rock, dubbed « 2020 VT4 », was seen just 15 hours after it approached its closest approach by the recent asteroid collision warning system on Mauna Loa, Hawaii.

Had it been too close, an object 16-33 feet (5–10 meters) wide – according to its brightness estimate – would have burned in the atmosphere over the South Pacific.

Bringing its orbit close to Earth like the International Space Station, making it the closest asteroid to pass Earth on record so far.

An asteroid the size of a London bus missed Earth only 240 miles (386 km) apart on Friday the 13th – but was not detected until the next day, astronomers revealed (stock image)

Bringing the orbit of Asteroid 2020 VT4 roughly the distance from Earth like the International Space Station, making it the closest asteroid to pass Earth in the record so far

Standard close-up shot, as Asteroid 2020 VT4 passes 400 kilometers from Earth on Friday the 13th – our latest post by universetoday -https: // t. co / koTTQseIEW – Nice try, 2020. . . Pic. Twitter. com / pplIcw2Y5z

Astronomer Tony Dunn – who runs Orbit Simulator – wrote on Twitter: « The newly discovered asteroid A10sHcN approached Earth yesterday, only passing a few hundred miles over the South Pacific. ». .

According to experts, the asteroid would need to be at least 82 feet (25 meters) wide to cause local damage to Earth’s surface – and some 0. 6-1. 2 miles (1-2 km) for global impacts.

For comparison, Earth scientists believe that the asteroid that killed the dinosaurs 66 million years ago was around 7. 5 miles (12. 1 km).

Meanwhile, the Chelyabinsk meteorite that exploded over Russia in 2013 – shattering the windows of thousands of buildings over a large area and hospitalizing 112 people – was nearly thirty times larger than the 2020 VT4.

In contrast, the collider would likely be about 60 miles (96 km) wide in order to completely wipe out life on our planet..

Had it been too close, an object 16-33 feet (5–10 meters) wide – according to its brightness estimate – would have burned in the atmosphere over the South Pacific. In the photo, Asteroid 2020 VT4 (top), London bus (center) and former record holder for the closest known asteroid passage to Earth, 2020QC (bottom)

A newly discovered asteroid A10sHcN approached Earth yesterday, passing a few hundred miles over the South Pacific. This encounter shortened its orbit, ensuring that the Earth-taker would make more frequent approaches. https: // t. Share / tmkzogizbf pic. Twitter. com / XrnKiiGTyJ

The orbit of 2020 VT4 (pictured in white) brought it close to Earth (shown in blue) like the International Space Station, making it the closest recorded visitor to an asteroid

This isn’t the first time this year that a space visitor has broken the record for the closest asteroid bypass.

Last August, the 2020 QG asteroid passed only 1,830 miles from Earth – and NASA astronomers only discovered it after it passed.

The rock passed over the Indian Ocean at an equal distance from the surface of the earth as the distance the flight took from Copenhagen in Denmark to Malaga in Spain.

Slightly smaller than the 2020 VT4, 2020 QC was around 6-18 feet (1. 5-8. 5 m) in diameter. Creatures of this size approach our planet every year.

The size of the 2020 QG was comparable in size to another asteroid that entered Earth’s atmosphere – 9-12 feet in diameter ‘2018 LA’, which reached us on June 2, 2018..

This space rock burned over Africa – and if any small fragments hit the ground, no damage or injuries were reported..

Coincidentally, 2020 VT4 is not the only asteroid visiting Earth on Friday the 13th – the 984 feet (300 meters) wide object called Apophis is expected to pass near us on Friday 13 April 2029..

Coincidentally, 2020 VT4 is not the only asteroid visiting Earth on Friday the 13th – the 984-foot (300 meters) wide object called Apophis is expected to pass near us on Friday 13 April 2029.. In the photo, an artist’s impression of Apophis approaching Earth.

Researchers have discovered most asteroids around 1 km in size, but are now looking for those around 459 feet (140 meters) high – because they could cause catastrophic damage.

Although no one knows when the next big impact will happen, scientists have found themselves under pressure to predict – and intercept – its arrival..

« Sooner or later we’ll arrive. . . Rolf Densing, head of the European Space Operations Center (ESOC) in Darmstadt, said

He said it might not happen in our lifetime, but that «  the risk of hitting Earth in a devastating event someday is very high.

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