The Conversation (0)
Darren Richman
Dec 20, 2019
Rex Features
While it might seem appropriate if 2019 were to end not with a whimper, but with a bang, it appears a “potentially hazardous” asteroid will just miss earth on Boxing Day.
The asteroid, snappily named 310442 (2000 CH59), will come closest to Earth during the early hours of 26 December.
According to Paul Chodas from NASA’s Centre for Near Earth Object Studies, talking to Newsweek, the closest the rock will come to earth will still be about 19 times the distance between us and the moon:
Over many centuries and millennia these asteroids might evolve into Earth-crossing orbits. So it is prudent to keep tracking them for decades to come and to study how their orbits might be evolving.
Given the state of the planet and politics on either side of the Atlantic, one is tempted to think an asteroid putting us out of our misery could be a blessing in disguise but apparently we will not be so lucky. There will be no deep impact, no Armageddon and we’ll have to pick up where we lift off in 2020.
Merry Christmas and happy new year!
H/T: IFL Science
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