(CNN) On April 29, an asteroid estimated to be between 1.1 and 2.5 miles wide will fly by Earth. But it's not expected to collide with our planet, thankfully. If it did, the asteroid is "large enough to cause global effects," according to NASA , back when the asteroid was first discovered.
In case you are keeping track:
NASA Hires SpaceX to Launch Mission to Giant Metal Asteroid
NASA's historic uncrewed mission to the metallic asteroid Psyche is now, also, a SpaceX jam. Elon Musk's rocket company will be responsible for getting the probe launched onboard a Falcon Heavy.
"The Psyche mission will journey to a unique metal-rich asteroid, also named Psyche, which orbits the Sun between Mars and Jupiter," reads a NASA press release about the collab. "The asteroid is considered unique, as it appears to largely be made of the exposed nickel-iron core of an early planet – one of the building blocks of our solar system."
NASA picks SpaceX Falcon Heavy to launch Psyche mission to metal asteroid in 2022 | Space
The $117 million Psyche mission will use one of SpaceX's Falcon Heavy rockets , and it is scheduled to launch from Launch Complex 39A at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida in July 2022.
The spacecraft will travel to a unique metal-rich asteroid named Psyche , which orbits the sun between Mars and Jupiter. Astronomers believe that studying this new asteroid will offer new clues about how terrestrial planets like Earth form, according to a statement from NASA.
NASA news: SpaceX Falcon 9 hired for asteroid Psyche mission 'worth QUADRILLIONS' | Science |
“The asteroid is considered unique, as it appears to largely be made of the exposed nickel-iron core of an early planet – one of the building blocks of our solar system.”
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If all goes according to plan, the audacious mission will launch next year from Florida’s Cape Canaveral.
The NASA Psyche probe, named after the asteroid it is exploring, will be loaded with equipment to investigate the asteroid’s composition.
Not to change the topic here:
NASA Asteroid Alert: 2 Earth-Crossing NEOs Approaching Tomorrow
NASA's Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) is currently tracking two asteroids that are expected to approach the planet tomorrow. According to the agency, the incoming asteroids have orbits that intersect Earth's trajectory.
The first asteroid that will visit Earth's neighborhood tomorrow is known as 2020 DZ3 . As indicated in CNEOS' database, this asteroid has an estimated diameter of about 154 feet. It is currently approaching Earth with a velocity of over 48,000 miles per hour.
Asteroid news: YOU can help astronomers study meteors striking the UK | Science | News |
The UK Fireball Network is looking to organise search teams of volunteers and enthusiasts in a bid to “catch a falling star”. Led by the University of Glasgow and Imperial College London, the UK Fireball Network scans the night skies for bright meteoroids cutting across the sky.
Dr Luke Daly, of the University of Glasgow’s School of Geographical and Earth Sciences, told Express.co.uk a few cameras and simple bit of mathematics can precisely pinpoint where a meteorite has landed.
NASA Alert: Airburst-Causing Asteroid Currently Headed For Earth
NASA is currently tracking an Earth-crossing asteroid that's expected to approach the planet tomorrow morning. Based on the data collected by the agency, the asteroid is capable of causing a mid-air explosion more powerful than several atomic bombs if it hits Earth.
According to NASA's Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS), the asteroid that's currently approaching Earth is known as 2020 BW13 . As indicated in the agency's database, this asteroid has an estimated diameter of about 66 feet. CNEOS noted that it is currently flying towards Earth at a speed of around 5,400 miles per hour.
Happening on Twitter
An asteroid estimated to be up to 2.5 miles wide will fly by Earth on April 29. Thankfully, it's not expected to co… https://t.co/erexNGVq9k KTLA (from Los Angeles, CA) Tue Mar 03 23:47:35 +0000 2020
Here's what you might have missed on CNN: ▪︎ Mickey Mouse finally has his own Disney World ride ▪︎ Large asteroid t… https://t.co/sFuYBrzZ2Y CNN Tue Mar 03 21:00:07 +0000 2020
This huge asteroid, moving at over 19,000 miles per hour, will zip past the Earth next month. Should we be worried? https://t.co/CNrGq1Eluo WIONews (from India) Wed Mar 04 09:17:28 +0000 2020
On April 29, an asteroid estimated to be between 1.7 and 4.02 kilometres wide will fly by Earth. #7NEWS https://t.co/mierujEkJj 7NewsAustralia (from Australia) Wed Mar 04 00:18:58 +0000 2020
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