This is indeed a remarkably close approach for an asteroid this size. We estimate that an asteroid of this size passes this close to the Earth only once every few decades.Paul Chodas, research scientist for NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory • Speaking on DA14, a 150-foot wide asteroid which is expected to make the closest flyby of the planet Earth on record. Estimated for 2:24 PM EST on February 15th, the asteroid will pass us, cosmically speaking, by a razor-thin margin – it’ll be ten times closer to Earth than the orbit of the Moon. Researchers assure there won’t be a collision, however – the asteroid will pass over the Indian Ocean, near Sumatra. source
Jupiter may have “saved Earth from a devastating cosmic collision” on Monday when it took a hit from what may have been a massive asteroid, resulting in a 100-mile-wide fireball large enough to be caught on film from Earth.
This is the third time since 2009 observers have seen an impact flash on Jupiter’s surface, and some astronomers think the big planet’s gravitational pull serves as a sort of “cosmic shield” for the inner rings of planets — including Earth — “sweeping up incoming objects that would have a deadlier effect” if they were to crash into us. A few scientists think that without Jupiter’s protection, life on Earth wouldn’t have been able to develop.
Watch the collision on Jupiter
Remember folks, it always pays to have a cosmic bodyguard.
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