A newly discovered asteroid named 2017 DR34 will make a very close approach to Earth, passing only 0.57 LD (218 880 km / 136 005 miles) from the surface of our planet on February 25, 2017. This is the second near-Earth asteroid to flyby within 1 lunar distance since February 23, and the sixth since January 9, 2017.
Asteroid 2017 DR34 has an estimated diameter between 2 and 8 m (6.5 - 26.2 feet) and it belongs to the Apollo group of asteroids.
It will make its closest approach to our planet at 04:52 UTC on February 25 and flyby at a speed (relative to the Earth) of 11.41 km/s.
[ Ephemeris | Orbit Diagram | Orbital Elements | Physical Parameters | Close-Approach Data ]
This is the second known near-Earth asteroid to flyby Earth within 1 lunar distance since 2017 DG16 on February 23, 2017.
It is also the sixth NEA to flyby within 1 LD since 2017 AG13 on January 9 and the seventh since November 25, 2016.
Find them all in our Near-Earth Objects category.
References:
- Asteroid 2017 DR34 at Minor Planet Center, NASA/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 gray. 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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