Asteroid safely passes Earth in closest known flyby
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Posted: 02/15/2013
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) - The world is safe -- at least from one asteroid.
A 150-foot cosmic rock hurtled safely past Earth on Friday.
It was the closest known flyby for a rock of its size, passing within 17,000 miles. That's closer than some satellites.
The flyby occurred just hours after a much smaller meteor exploded above Russia's Ural Mountains.
Astronomers say the two events were coincidental, and the objects were traveling in opposite directions. At least one scientist called it an exciting day and "like a shooting gallery here."
The asteroid was invisible to astronomers in the United States at the time of its closest approach on the opposite of the world.
But in Australia, astronomers used binoculars and telescopes to watch the point of light speed across the clear night sky.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
PRINT
More National News
-
Reaction to Boy Scouts gay ban vote
The Boy Scouts of America have voted to allow openly gay scouts to join their ranks while still banning gay leaders. Many say this is a start, but not good enough.
-
Bridge collapses in Washington State
An Interstate 5 bridge over a river north of Seattle collapsed Thursday evening, dumping vehicles and people into the water, the Washington State Patrol said.
-
Boy Scouts to accept openly gay boys
In one of their most dramatic choices in a century, local leaders of the Boy Scouts of America voted Thursday to ease a divisive ban and allow openly gay boys to be accepted into the nation's leading youth organization.
