NASA uses an asteroid flyby to test Earth's warning system for approaching space objects
We will remind, today in the first half of the day, a small asteroid passed at a distance of 43 800 kilometers over Antarctica. Program scientist Michael Kelly noted that the asteroid passes quite close, but does not pose a danger to the Earth. However, this situation will help to test the warning system in practice.
Kelly likened such a test to a fire safety exercise in office centers. Observatories around the world, part of the International Asteroid Warning Network, have been monitoring the asteroid 2012 TC4 for several weeks to check communications and coordination. Kelly noted that everything is going according to plan.
Until now, researchers have relied on theoretical tests, that is, simulations without real asteroids. The exercise will continue for another week, as observers will continue to track the asteroid until it leaves the vicinity of Earth.
Discovered back in 2012, and then disappeared from view until July last year, the asteroid, according to rough estimates, has a radius of 14 to 30 meters.
Scientists chose this particular asteroid because they knew that it did not threaten the Earth, but still has some uncertainty about the flight route. This uncertainty presents a challenge for observers in this project. They use powerful telescopes in Hawaii and Arizona. The Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico was unable to participate in the project due to damage from Hurricane Maria.
The tests are overseen by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and even the White House, which leads NASA's Planetary Defense Coordination Bureau, Kelly said.
Another test, using another asteroid that is safe for Earth, is scheduled for the next few years.
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In the photo: the near-Earth asteroid 2012 TC4 (point in the center), published by the European Southern Observatory on August 10, 2017