Don’t Miss the Chance to See the Huge Asteroid 2013 NK4 Passing Earth
A giant asteroid, 2013 NK4, recently made its way past our planet, and scientists are urging people not to miss the chance to see it. On April 15th, this massive space rock safely passed by Earth, but the opportunity to view it through small telescopes is still available until April 17th. The excitement surrounding this event is due to the unique characteristics of the asteroid.
What sets 2013 NK4 apart from other asteroids is its size and distance. With a diameter of approximately 2,000 feet (or 610 meters), it is roughly twice the size of the famous “doomsday asteroid” Apophis. However, what makes it even more intriguing is its significantly greater distance during its closest approach to Earth. It passed at a distance more than eight times that of the moon – a distance that allowed scientists to announce that people with telescopes would be able to observe its passage near Earth. This rare opportunity to witness an asteroid’s close encounter has generated considerable excitement among astronomy enthusiasts.
The images obtained by NASA astronomers using the Goldstone Radar in California reveal that asteroid 2013 NK4 is likely a binary contact. This means that it consists of two celestial bodies or asteroids that have attracted each other gravitationally until they are touching, giving rise to their unique stretched-out form. This discovery adds to the intrigue and fascination surrounding this enormous space rock.
The asteroid’s speed during its recent pass by Earth was also noteworthy. It raced past our planet at a speed of 36,909 miles per hour (or 59,400 kilometers per hour), equivalent to 10.2 miles per second (or 16.5 kilometers per second) relative to Earth. This rapid speed showcases the immense power and force that asteroids possess as they travel through space.
In terms of its orbit, asteroid 2013 NK4 completes one orbit around the sun every 378 days. However, its orbit is slightly more elliptical than Earth’s, extending beyond Mars before swinging inwards between the orbits of Venus and Mercury. This unique orbit adds to the asteroid’s mystique and contributes to its classification as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid. While it occasionally passes near Earth, astronomers have been monitoring it since 2013, and there was no threat during its recent flyby.
NASA plans to further study this massive asteroid. Astronomers will use the 230-foot (70-meter) DSS-14 Goldstone radar antenna in California to capture images of the space rock from April 13th to 19th. These images are expected to reveal the asteroid’s shape and potentially provide more accurate measurements of its size, contributing to our understanding of these celestial objects.
If you haven’t had the chance to see asteroid 2013 NK4 yet, there is still time. Although its closest approach has already occurred, observing it through a telescope tonight, on April 17th, will be even more convenient. GoTo telescopes or computerized telescopes can help you track and locate this massive space rock as it continues its journey through the cosmos. Don’t miss out on this extraordinary opportunity to witness an asteroid passing by our planet.
