2015 YB was just discovered two days ago.
IT is set to skim CLOSELY by the planet Earth within hours of this post being written.. NASA’s JPL website has the technical information on the happening.
Before panic sets in, relax (I think?).. Most are saying there is no danger, but UK media is highly playing up the disastrous consequences it could have would it strike the planet.. the UK EXPRESS reporting: “
“Asteroid that could ‘injure THOUSANDS’ to skim Earth TONIGHT two days after its discovery”
Among the reporting by Jon Austin:
Astronomers were oblivious to the existence of the space rock, which is big enough to destroy a town and called 2015 YB, until Wednesday.
The Slooh Telescope internet channel is hosting a special live broadcast to capture the flyby at 2am.
A Slooh spokesman said the pass was so near it would be within range of geosynchronous satellites which orbit at the same rotation period as Earth.
He said: “Discovered just two days ago, Slooh will provide live coverage.
“The size and speed of this asteroid makes it very difficult to track.
The important and chilling thing to realize with this: The distance of 0.2 LD (lunar distance) means that the Asteroid should pass about 40,000 miles from Earth, or roughly 20% of the distance between the Earth and the moon.. 40,000..
40,000.
This one is close, people.. Very close. And just discovered..
Remember Chelyabinsk ? The night we were told a 2013 asteroid was far away…something hit Russia.
Space is unpredictable, and we are in space.
More from the EXPRESS:
Astronomers have nicknamed the asteroid The Flea, in honour of the world’s greatest soccer player, Lionel Messi.
The spokesman added: “We will be asking, why, like Messi, it got through our best defences until two days ago.”
