From SpaceWeather:
ASTEROID FLYBY (UPDATED):
Newly discovered asteroid 2016 RB1 flew past Earth on Sept 7th, only 25,000 miles above our planet's south pole. Because of the asteroid's southern trajectory, it did not pass within the orbits of any communication or weather satellites--but it was close. Researchers say the space rock is 25 to 50 ft in diameter, or about the size of a grey whale. According to orbital elements published by NASA, 2016 RB1 will pass the Moon on Sept. 8th at a distance of approximately 179,000 miles--a rare double flyby....MORE
Newly discovered? 25,000 miles? What the...?
Here's what's on the menu (that we know of):
Recent
& Upcoming Earth-asteroid encounters:
| Asteroid |
Date(UT)
|
Miss
Distance
|
Size
|
| 2016 RU1 |
Sep 3
|
4.1 LD
|
13 m
|
| 2016 RW1 |
Sep 3
|
7.7 LD
|
18 m
|
| 2004 BO41 |
Sep 7
|
38.9 LD
|
1.1 km
|
| 2016 RB1 |
Sep 7
|
0.1 LD
|
12 m
|
| 2016 QS44 |
Sep 10
|
8 LD
|
57 m
|
| 2015 KE |
Sep 10
|
14.9 LD
|
23 m
|
| 2016 QL44 |
Sep 17
|
3.6 LD
|
44 m
|
| 2016 QS11 |
Sep 18
|
12.2 LD
|
30 m
|
| 2009 UG |
Sep 30
|
7.3 LD
|
101 m
|
| 2100 Ra-Shalom |
Oct 9
|
58.3 LD
|
1.1 km
|
 |
Notes: LD means
"Lunar Distance." 1 LD = 384,401 km, the distance
between Earth and the Moon.
1 LD also equals 0.00256
AU. MAG is the visual magnitude of the asteroid on
the date of closest approach.
