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Posts by
Eddie Irizarry
Small asteroid skimmed close to Earth, hours after discovery
A small asteroid skimmed close to Earth on September 7, 2021. Asteroid 2021 RS2 passed less than 10,000 miles (about 15,000 km) away.
September 8, 2021
1,001st near-Earth asteroid glimpsed with radar
The 1,001st near-Earth asteroid observed with planetary radar is 2016 AJ193. Scientists caught it with NASA's Goldstone antenna in late August 2021.
September 4, 2021
Heads up! Close asteroid pass August 21
Close asteroid pass August 21, 2021. This fast-moving asteroid is designed 2016 AJ193. It's currently rushing inward toward the sun. It will not strike Earth.
August 20, 2021
Heads up! Small asteroid to pass very close on April 12
Small asteroid 2021 GW4 will pass extremely close to Earth on Monday, April 12, 2021. It'll pass just 12,313 miles (19,816 km) from Earth's surface, or about 5% the Earth-moon distance.
April 11, 2021
2001 FO32: Big asteroid sweeps closest this weekend
When the asteroid labeled 2001 FO32 sweeps closest to Earth on March 21, 2021, it'll be moving at such a fast pace that observers using telescopes might be able to detect its motion - its drift in front of the stars - in real time. Charts and info here.
March 19, 2021
Say goodbye to Earth’s mini-moon on February 1 and 2
In November, a new mini-moon began orbiting Earth. NASA later confirmed it's a lost-and-found 60s-era rocket from the Surveyor 2 moon mission, launched more than 50 years ago. Now the object - SO 2020 - is coming close again for one last time. Here's how to see it!
January 28, 2021
Is that a UFO?! There’s probably an explanation
Most Unidentified Flying Objects aren't actually unidentified. Here's a list of phenomena, either natural or human-made, that people often mistake for UFOs.
December 15, 2020
Astronomers reveal asteroid 2000 WO107 as a contact binary
Asteroid 2000 WO107 passed Earth safely on November 29, at 11 times the moon's distance. Astronomers at Goldstone bounced radar signals from its surface and discovered it's 2 asteroids that touched, and stuck.
December 1, 2020
This asteroid just skimmed Earth’s atmosphere
The asteroid - 2020 VT4 - is estimated to be between 16 and 36 feet (5-11 meters). It skimmed the top of our atmosphere on Friday, November 13, 2020. Astronomers spotted it one day later.
November 16, 2020
Comet C/2020 M3 (Atlas) is closest November 14
Discovered last June, Comet C/2020 M3 (Atlas) is closest to Earth - millions of miles away - on Saturday, November 14, 2020. It's in an easy-to-find location, if you have a dark sky. Charts and photos here.
November 14, 2020
