Asteroid Crossing
On February 15, 2013, an asteroid called 2012 DA14 raced through space a mere 17,200 miles from Earth's surface. Although the asteroid had no chance of hitting our planet, its approach was one of the closest ever recorded for a near-Earth object. Using one of NASA's Deep Space Network antennas, scientists created a series of radar images of the asteroid as it traveled away from Earth. These observations are essential for predicting its future trajectory. By analyzing the pixelated images scientists estimate the asteroid's length to be roughly 130 feet. On average, an object of that size crosses Earth's orbit at close range about once every 40 years. Watch the videos to see radar views of asteroid 2012 DA14 and a simulation of its near-Earth flyby.
A near-Earth flyby provides scientists with a rare, close-up view of an asteroid.
These radar images of asteroid 2012 DA14 (looped 9 times) were taken on the night of Feb. 15-16, 2013.
This simulation of asteroid 2012 DA14's trajectory shows its close flyby of Earth.
Astronomers at the La Sagra Sky Survey took these images of asteroid 2012 DA14. The asteroid was discovered in Feb. 2012.
Asteroid 2012 DA14, shown in the white box, streaks in front of the Eta Carinae Nebula, traveling at about 17,400 mph.
NASA's Goldstone Solar System Radar, located in California's Mojave Desert, captured the radar images of asteroid 2012 DA14.
Credits
Please give credit for this item to:
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center
Radar video and image courtesy of NASA/JPL-Caltech /GSSR
Simulation courtesy of NASA/JPL-Caltech
2012 DA14 images courtesy of La Sagra Sky Survey
Eta Carinae Nebula image courtesy of NASA/MSFC/Aaron Kingery
Radar antenna image courtesy of NASA/JPL-Caltech
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Writer
- Alex Kasprak (USRA)
Release date
This page was originally published on Tuesday, March 5, 2013.
This page was last updated on Wednesday, May 3, 2023 at 1:52 PM EDT.