Small Asteroid to Safely Pass Close to Earth Sunday

NASA | SEPTEMBER 5, 2014

A small asteroid, designated 2014 RC, will safely pass very close to Earth on Sunday, Sept. 7, 2014. At the time of closest approach, based on current calculations to be about 2:18 p.m. EDT (11:18 a.m. PDT / 18:18 UTC), the asteroid will be roughly over New Zealand. From its reflected brightness, astronomers estimate that the asteroid is about 20 meters in size.

This graphic depicts the passage of asteroid 2014 RC past Earth on September 7, 2014. At time of closest approach, the space rock will be about one-tenth the distance from Earth to the moon. Times indicated on the graphic are Universal Time. Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

Asteroid 2014 RC was initially discovered on the night of August 31 by the Catalina Sky Survey near Tucson, Arizona, and independently detected the next night by the Pan-STARRS 1 telescope, located on the summit of Haleakal on Maui, Hawaii. Both reported their observations to the Minor Planet Center in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Additional follow-up observations by the Catalina Sky Survey and the University of Hawaii 88-inch (2.2-meter) telescope on Mauna Kea confirmed the orbit of 2014 RC.

At the time of closest approach, 2014 RC will be approximately one-tenth the distance from the center of Earth to the moon, or about 40,000 kilometers. The asteroid's apparent magnitude at that time will be about 11.5, rendering it unobservable to the unaided eye. However, amateur astronomers with small telescopes might glimpse the fast-moving appearance of this near-Earth asteroid.

The asteroid will pass below Earth and the geosynchronous ring of communications and weather satellites orbiting about 36,000 kilometers above our planet's surface. While this celestial object does not appear to pose any threat to Earth or satellites, its close approach creates a unique opportunity for researchers to observe and learn more about asteroids.

While 2014 RC will not impact Earth, its orbit will bring it back to our planet's neighborhood in the future. The asteroid's future motion will be closely monitored, but no future threatening Earth encounters have been identified.

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

Cleaner Air Tied to Healthier Lungs in Kids

Researchers have linked a wide array of health effects to air pollution. Among these are reduced lung function, asthma, cardiovascular disease, preterm birth, and even death. The period between 11 and 15 years of age is particularly important for long-term lung function, as lungs are developing rapidly.

Potentially Habitable 'Super-Earths' Found Orbiting around Sun's near Neighbor

Two planets that orbit around a star like our own sun could support life.

Common Ingredient in Toothpaste Puts Women at Risk of Bone Disease

A study indicated that a chemical used in some toothpastes, soaps and antibacterial products puts women at a higher risk of developing osteoporosis.

Longer cooling, lower temperature no improvement for infant oxygen deprivation

The standard treatment for newborns whose brains were deprived of oxygen appears to work better than proposed alternatives, according to a new study.

Our brains appear uniquely tuned for musical pitch

Results of study involving primates suggest that speech and music may have shaped the human brain’s hearing circuits.

Supermassive Black Holes Feed on Cosmic Jellyfish

Observations of “Jellyfish galaxies” with ESO’s Very Large Telescope have revealed a previously unknown way to fuel supermassive black holes.