NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Southern California recently captured detailed images of two asteroids as they passed by Earth, contributing to the advancement of planetary defense efforts. One of the asteroids, named 2011 UL21, revealed a small moon orbiting it, an unexpected discovery made just 13 days before its closest approach. The other asteroid, known as 2024 MK, had been previously identified and monitored.
The radar observations conducted during these close approaches provide valuable practice for planetary defense, offering insights into the sizes, orbits, rotation, surface details, composition, and formation of the asteroids. Despite being classified as potentially hazardous, calculations affirm that 2011 UL21, measuring nearly a mile-wide (1.5 kilometers), poses no threat to Earth in the foreseeable future.
Using the Goldstone Solar System Radar, scientists transmitted radio waves to 2011 UL21, revealing its roughly spherical shape. Additionally, they detected a smaller asteroid, or moonlet, orbiting the main asteroid from a distance of about 1.9 miles (3 kilometers).
Two days later, the team observed asteroid 2024 MK pass by at a distance of only 184,000 miles (295,000 kilometers), slightly more than three-quarters of the gap between the Moon and Earth. The elongated and angular shape of the asteroid, measuring about 500 feet (150 meters) wide, became apparent through the radar observations. The detailed image of its surface displayed concavities, ridges, and boulders approximately 30 feet (10 meters) wide.
Radar observations play a crucial role in planetary defense by providing researchers with essential information about near-Earth objects (NEOs). These observations aid in understanding the characteristics of asteroids, enabling the development of strategies to mitigate potential threats. The Goldstone Solar System Radar, with its capability to gather high-resolution data on NEOs’ shapes, sizes, and surface features, serves as a key tool in these efforts.
By continually advancing our knowledge of asteroids and their properties, NASA moves closer to effectively safeguarding our planet from future celestial hazards.
FAQ:
1. What did NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) recently capture images of?
– NASA’s JPL recently captured detailed images of two asteroids as they passed by Earth.
2. What was the unexpected discovery made regarding one of the asteroids?
– One of the asteroids, named 2011 UL21, revealed a small moon orbiting it, which was an unexpected discovery made just 13 days before its closest approach.
3. What information do radar observations during close approaches provide?
– Radar observations during close approaches provide valuable practice for planetary defense and offer insights into the sizes, orbits, rotation, surface details, composition, and formation of the asteroids.
4. Is asteroid 2011 UL21 considered a potential threat to Earth?
– No, calculations have affirmed that asteroid 2011 UL21, measuring nearly a mile-wide (1.5 kilometers), poses no threat to Earth in the foreseeable future.
5. What was the radar used to transmit radio waves to asteroid 2011 UL21?
– The Goldstone Solar System Radar was used to transmit radio waves to asteroid 2011 UL21.
6. What did the radar observations reveal about asteroid 2024 MK?
– The radar observations revealed that asteroid 2024 MK has an elongated and angular shape, measuring about 500 feet (150 meters) wide. The detailed image of its surface displayed concavities, ridges, and boulders approximately 30 feet (10 meters) wide.
7. What role do radar observations play in planetary defense?
– Radar observations play a crucial role in planetary defense by providing researchers with essential information about near-Earth objects (NEOs). These observations aid in understanding the characteristics of asteroids and enable the development of strategies to mitigate potential threats.
Definitions:
1. Planetary defense: The field of study and efforts aimed at identifying and mitigating potential threats from asteroids and other near-Earth objects that could impact the Earth.
2. Near-Earth objects (NEOs): Asteroids and comets that come within 1.3 astronomical units (AU) of the Earth, with 1 AU being the average distance between the Earth and the Sun (~93 million miles or 150 million kilometers).
Suggested related links:
1. NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
2. NASA: Asteroids, Comets, and Meteors