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Newly discovered asteroid 2017 BX to flyby Earth at 0.68 LD

asteroid-2017-bx-flyby-january-25-2017

A newly discovered Apollo-class asteroid 2017 BX will flyby Earth at 0.68 LD (261 120 km / 162 252 miles) from the surface of our planet on January 25, 2017. Its estimated size is between 4 and 14 m (13 and 46 feet). 

At the time of its closest approach to Earth – 04:45 UTC on January 25 – asteroid 2017 BX will flyby at 0.68 LD (261 120 km / 162 252 miles) from the surface of Earth with an estimated velocity of 7.44 km/s.

Ephemeris | Orbit Diagram | Orbital Elements | Physical Parameters | Close-Approach Data ]

2017 BX was first observed at Pan-STARRS 1, Haleakala on January 20, 2017.

The next time this object comes close to our planet will be on January 12, 2070. Its nominal distance at the time of closest approach will be 37.9 LD (14553603 km / 9043190 miles).

As of January 17, 2017, there are 15 564 known near-Earth objects. On January 1, 2000, this number was only 935. Ten years before that, on January 1, 1990, we knew only for 180 near-Earth objects.

The following chart  shows the current total number of known near-Earth asteroids (as of January 21, 2017) grouped according to their estimated sizes. The first size bin represents NEAs smaller than ~30 m (98 feet) in diameter. The last bin represents NEAs with diameters larger than ~1km (0.62 miles).

Near-Earth asteroids according to their estimated sizes - As of January 21, 2017

Credit: NASA NEO/JPL

References:

Asteroid 2017 BX at Minor Planet Center; at NASA NEO/JPL

Featured image: The green line indicates the object's apparent motion relative to the Earth, and the bright green marks are the object's location at approximately one hour intervals. The Moon's orbit is grey. The blue arrow points in the direction of Earth's motion and the yellow arrow points toward the Sun. Credit: Minor Planet Center. Edit: TW

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5 Comments

  1. so glad we have that space station orbiting around watching the universe and all those observers out there constantly watching the sky in real time , im sure with that awesome technology we have on hubble we can easily see a asteroid from miles away in real time , since we got so nice pics of million years away galaxies and stuff

  2. I witnessed what I called ” a really bright shooting star” last week while standing outside at 4am smoking a cig before getting ready for work. The light from it lit my whole yard and startled me. I had no idea I was watching an asteroid fly thru the atmosphere. I guess I just happened to be at the right place at the right time…was a sight I will NEVER forget!!

  3. It was only first observed January 20th. Does that mean discovered? Flyby .68 of the distance from the earth to the moon on the 25th? Wonder how many others are on their way here with so little time for warning?

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