There are plenty of asteroid out there , and several of them like to cod astronomers by skimming fairly nigh by our tiny , defenseless satellite from fourth dimension to prison term . This September is no exception , with a fair prominent , 4.4 - kilometer ( 2.7 - mile ) rocky beast set to hurry by us on thevery first dayof the month .
Dubbed “ Florence ” , this asteroid will pass at a distance of around 7 million kilometers ( 4.4 million miles ) from Earth tomorrow . Although a close flyby by some meter , this is roughly the same distance as 18 multiplication the interruption between the Earth and the Moon .
As pointed out byNASA , Florence is no threat to us . In fact , the most notable affair about it – aside from its strangely delicious name – is its sizing .
“ While many known asteroids have slide by by closer to Earth than Florence will on September 1 , all of those were estimated to be smaller , ” Paul Chodas , coach of NASA ’s Center for Near - Earth Object Studies ( CNEOS ) at the way ’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena , California , say in astatement . “ Florence is the largest asteroid to pass by our planet this close since the NASA program to detect and dog near - Earth asteroid began . ”
expose in 1981 by an eagled - eyed researcher at the Siding Spring Observatory in Australia , Florence has run by Earth before . This approach will be the closest since 1890 , and it will persist the confining until 2500 .
Researchers angling for a closer look at the asteroid will not get a well probability than this . Ground - based radio detection and ranging station all over the planet are targeting it , go for to spot very ok aerofoil details as it zip up by .
If you ’re keen to spot it yourself , small personal telescope in depressed - light area will be able-bodied to spot it later this calendar month through to early September , where it will lighten up in the night sky through the constellation Piscis Austrinus , Capricornus , Aquarius , and Delphinus .
In any case , it ’s in force to know NASA is keeping its eye on potential threats to the planet . Although some close encounters err past their view , a good deal ofpotential planet - killersare constantly monitor .
Just in case you were wonder , Florence is describe afterFlorence Nightingale , who is widely seen as the progenitor of all modernistic music . Why , you may call for ? perfectly no idea . reply on a postcard , please .
… but this figure of speech assign thing into perspective a snatch better . NASA
