Asteroid 1999 VF22 which has the size of a cruise ship passed Earth on February 22, 2022 yesterday.
In fact, this space rock is so close to Earth that it is the closest after more than 100 years. So what’s the impact?
Furthermore, astronomers turned out to show live about the space rock. As a result, people can still see it live.
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After 100 Years, Asteroid 1999 VF22 Approaches Earth
Space rock asteroids or minor planets are indeed located in the coir between Mars and Jupiter. Even so, some of them also orbit and travel near Earth.
Again, astronomers confirmed that there would be an asteroid approaching Earth. This time the size is not as big as the Burj Khalifa or Eiffel tower in France.
The asteroid that passed on February 22, 2022 is only the size of a cruise ship. The asteroid’s average diameter is 1,017 feet (310 meters).
The space rock’s name is 1999 VF22. Previous radar studies from the Arecibo Observatory revealed that the 1999 VF22 was spherical.
The Catalina Sky Survey in Arizona managed to rediscover the asteroid on November 10, 1999. The discovery date is what caused asteroid 455176 to be nicknamed 1999 VF22.
The special thing about this asteroid is that it is rarely seen approaching Earth. If another large asteroid in one year must be close to Earth’s orbit, then not 1999 VF22.
It will only approach Earth’s orbit once every 100 years. That’s why the approach detected at 2:54 a.m. EST (07:54 UTC) is highly anticipated.
Reportedly, the asteroid 1999 VF22 passed Earth with a fairly close but still safe distance, which is 3.3 million miles (5.4 million km). This distance is equal to 14 times the distance from Earth to the Moon.
Although the stretch of distance is quite safe, it turns out that astronomers still have the opportunity to study asteroids using radar.
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Featured Via Live Streaming
Because it is considered a rarity, the object 1999 VF22 that came closer to Earth was finally shown live. The Virtual Telescope Project is a tool that astronomers use to capture images.
Yesterday’s live stream took place via the web virtual telescope project or on space.com on Sunday at 7 pm EST (0000 GMT on Tuesday, 22 February).
“The Virtual Telescope Project comes live, online, and only moments before it drifts away. This is your way to travel from the comfort of your home,” said founder Gianluca Masi.
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The asteroid is traveling at 56,158 miles per hour (25.1 km/s) relative to Earth. Although the distance is safe, in fact this asteroid can become a potential danger if the predicted distance is too close to Earth.
From February 19 to 24, astronomers have aimed the 70-meter (230-foot) Goldstone DSS-14 Radar Antenna in California at space rocks.
They plan to study this asteroid, which appears to complete one revolution every four hours.
Asteroid 1999 VF22 orbits the sun once every 1 1/2 years. Not only passing near Earth, but also Mercury, Venus, and Mars. (R10/HR-Online)
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