In early February, astronomers were scared: 5 March 2016 the Earth will approach the asteroid, designated 2013 TX68. But at what exact distance he will charge, to determine did not work. The lump could be and at 17 thousand miles, and 14 million kilometers from our planet.
2013 TX68 was discovered on 6 October 2013 during the observations in the framework of the project Catalina Sky Survey. In the field of view he was only 3 days, flying 2 million miles from Earth. Scientists have not managed to collect all the data to calculate an accurate trajectory. Collected – enough for rough calculations.
So the other day NASA (NASA”s Center for NEO Studies (CNEOS) at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California) said it has raised these archival observations have found this asteroid and calculated: 2013 TX68 will pass within 5 million miles from Earth. And this will happen on 5 and 8 March. According to the newspaper “Komsomolskaya Pravda – Volgograd”.
However, absolute confidence in the latter prediction. Although NASA assured that closer than 24 thousand kilometers of the asteroid will not come closer. That is, he will not face. And this can be considered a peculiar gift of heaven to the Women’s Day.
But about the future full of confidence there. September 28, 2017 asteroid will be back. The probability of disaster is 1 chance in 250 million. Scanty, but not zero.
Scientists hope that by 8 March 2016 they will be able to monitor the asteroid and its trajectory. As well as dimensions. While the 2013 estimate TX68 diameter of 31 meters.
Now in the field of view of NASA are 12 992 asteroids with orbits that intersect with earth’s. 1607 of them are considered potentially dangerous (Potentially Hazardous Asteroids) – that is, having the chance to someday collide with our planet.
