Sky-watchers rejoice! A billing in the pots any 7 This week, a cosmic thought to be no less than around four-fifths of planet asteroid – it will mortals called 2011 UL21 present itself traffic move? This colossal visitor, nicknamed a “planet killer” because of its huge size and capable of landing one in principle were it to strike the earth but not appearing to be an immediate threat this time round Of course is a graphic wake up call as we watch on our doorstep edge side from outer space.
At more than 7,500 feet in diameter, the PHA is one of the largest to approach earth for at least a century. We are talking sizes as large a Mount Everest shooting somewhere in space. While the impact of an asteroid this size would cause dramatic climate changes and extensive damage, it sounds more benign than the global catastrophe that might be caused by smaller asteroids (1/3 ling) hidden in further parts of outer solar system. Thankfully, that scenario is not in the books with this fight.
June 27 will likely be the closest Earth has come to 2011 UL21 in over a century. While that might sound “very close” in astronomical terms, the fact remains we are still four MILLION miles away. This space rock speeds around the sun every three years and its upcoming pass is ideal for astronomers to collect data on how it ticks.
‘Planet killer’ asteroid to shoot past Earth in closest call for 125 years in just DAYS – here’s how you can see it HTTPS://T.CO/BBKUGSYPV1 PIC.TWITTER.COM/RDACAIE0IE
— Daily Mail Online (@MailOnline) JUNE 25, 2024
Fear not, you lowly amateur sky-watchers! Although invisible to the naked eye, 2011 UL21 will pass by telescopes on June 28 and 29. This will be our best opportunity to see the panicked cease visitor for decades, as this is when it will appear at its brightest. But don’t forget, in spite of its near encounter, the asteroid will still be very far away – more than 17 times as distant from us as our moon is.
This meeting is not one of the pass by night show. 2011 UL21 is set to make another relatively close approach in 2089, when it will come within just 1.7 million miles of our planet. It is essential for science that this monitoring of near-Earth objects – the apocalyptic-sounding term scientists use to refer to any space rocks found between Earth and Mars, our neighboring planet just around the corner at some 35 million miles away- continue ad infinitum.
The asteroid was first detected on October 26, 2011 by researchers with the Catalina Sky Survey project and belongs to a class of asteroids known as Apollos for their ability to cross Earth’s orbit. These planets are travelling through the orbit of Earth, but move on slightly larger paths around the sun. Although Apollo asteroids range in size, 2011 UL21 is notable for how large it can become.
For now, at least we know to always keep 2011 UL21 under special observation. The ‘potentially hazardous’ designation includes any asteroid larger than 460 feet in diameter that comes to within 4.6 million miles of Earth However, as astrophysicist with the Virtual Telescope Project Gianluca Masi explained in a Tweet at the time of discovery (linked above), such categorization indicates that it warrants monitoring and also does not mean there is any kind of certainty on an collision taking place.
“Potentially hazardous asteroid’ is a technical term,” Masi said. It just means these bigger asteroids can get pretty near Earth. They deserve their attention we don’t have to take the payments.
Eddy and Harnik’s paper provides context, a few predictions – but what is the SETI Institute opinion on all of this? Critics note that Apollo asteroids, such as 2011 UL21, come in sizes from a few meters to several kilometers wide. Most importantly, The orbits of these have natural satellites cross Earth’s orbit. These are thus among the most harmonious neighboring planets in our solar system.
And, while the imminent flyby is exciting to some people scientists at MIT have calming words. There will be no life-threatening “planet killer” asteroid hurtling at Earth for the next millennium+, their 2023 results suggest.
The upcoming fly-by of 2011 UL21 drives home the point that our solar system is a very dynamic place. As astronomers keep a wayward eye on us, the information gained from such encounters spells some good news for our ancestors of tomorrow. Get your telescopes ready as this gigantic visitor of the cosmos makes its way into our skies!