An asteroid half the size of a football field is passing by Earth Friday in the closest ever approach by an object of its size.
The asteroid, called 2012 DA14, will pass between the Earth and satellites in orbit. The closest point to the Earth is believed to be 5,000 miles closer than the satellites which make up the GPS navigational system or 1/13th the distance from the Earth to the moon.
Scientists say there is no danger to the Earth of the asteroid making contact with the planet. However, they did acknowledge that should the object get caught in the planet’s gravitational force and enter the atmosphere it could likely explode at a high elevation causing massive destruction but not endangering civilization.
An event over Siberia in 1908 by an asteroid half the size of 2012 DA14 exploding in midair caused total destruction over an 825 square mile area. Scientists believe that 2012 DA14 will have its orbit changed by the Earth’s pull but not enough to cause a similar event to 1908.
Former Apollo astronaut Rusty Schweickart said that scientists have not been diligent at cataloging the number of near-Earth objects that could cause a planetary impact. He said that 2012 DA14 is a “celestial torpedo across the bow of spaceship Earth.”
