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A Close Call Today! An Asteroid is a Near Miss

Jan 27, 2012; 12:34 AM ET

A bus-sized asteroid is scheduled to pass close to the Earth on Friday, Jan. 27, around 10:30 a.m. EST.

Also known as Asteroid 2012 BX34, the flying rock measures around 36 feet and will be coming within 36,750 miles of Earth. Though this distance does not seem close in everyday terms, this is a close call in cosmic terms.

The relatively small asteroid, however, would not have much of an effect even if it did hit the Earth, which experts insist it will not. In comparison, NASA scientists explain that asteroids capable of causing widespread destruction need to be at least around 400 feet.

According to Spaceweather.com, some amateur astronomers might be able to catch a glimpse of the bus-sized asteroid with a telescope and have a close-up and personal encounter with a large flying rock.

"Advanced amateur astronomers might be able to observe the flyby as the asteroid brightens to 14th magnitude just before closest approach on Friday."

Throughout history, asteroids big enough to cause major damage and disruption to the global economy and society (were they to strike a populated area today) have hit Earth, on average, every 200 or 300 years, according to former astronaut Rusty Schweickart.

Schweickart chairs the B612 Foundation, a group dedicated to predicting and preventing cataclysmic asteroid impacts on Earth. The group's chief message is that humanity's survival will someday depend on our ability to deflect a killer asteroid away from Earth.

AccuWeather Facebook Astronomy expert Daniel Vogler said, "Newly discovered asteroid 2012 BX34 will come within 36,750 miles of entering our atmosphere at 10:30 AM EST Friday. It would most likely break up in to smaller chunks (if it did enter our atmosphere), not doing any major damage, if indeed it did enter atmosphere. Being at a 14th magnitude, it can't be seen with naked eye (even if it were dark and clear skies). Would need a decent telescope to see it."

Though not asteroid 2012 BX34 (actually an asteroid named Gapra), this is an example of what an asteroid looks like in space

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About This Blog

Mark Paquette
The AccuWeather.com astronomy blog, by Mark Paquette, discusses stargazing and astronomy issues and how the weather will interact with current astronomy events.