Date: Sunday, 17-February-2013, 7:22 AM | Message # 1
-- dragon lord--
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Since the beginning of time, mankind has been fascinated with the heavens. From constellations to the space race, many have dedicated their lives to the study of space and just hours ago a massive asteroid known as "2012 DA 14" came within 17,150 miles of planet Earth. According to experts, an impact with an asteroid that size of 2012 DA 14 would be catastrophic. Geoff Chester with the US Naval Observatory joins us to discuss the possible outcomes of an asteroid impact on Earth.
An asteroid, half the size of a football pitch, has flashed past earth the closest proximity of anything that size to pass the planet. 2012 DA14 travelled over the Indian Ocean, affording the best views in Eastern Europe, Asia and Australia. 2012 DA14 was first spied by Spanish astronomers after its last passage much further away. From such observations it is able to calculate the asteroid's future orbits. The celestial body avoided colliding with any of the numerous satellites that ring planet earth.
