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| Photographer: Andreus Agency: Dreamstime.com |
Ok, so it wasn't that critical, but space around Earth has been busy this week! A chunk of space rock the size of a garbage truck barely missed Earth yesterday (March 6) making it the third asteroid flyby in the last 24 hours. How close was it? It came about six times closer than the orbit of the moon, or 38,300 miles away.
The 25-foot-wide asteroid 2014 EC that almost crash landed on Earth wasn't as big as the 100-foot asteroid 2014 DX110 which swung by on Wednesday at 217,000 miles away.
It is estimated that the chances of these asteroids hitting us are slim at about 1 in over 2 million, but sometimes I feel that's the story they tell us so we don't flip out and start looting.
Will a giant meteor take us out in a fiery blaze one day? Only time will tell, but researchers are pushing for more funds and new fangled equipment to aid the hunt for asteroids near Earth. They have already found thousands and estimate that there are thousands more. Hmm, maybe we should also invest in a disintegration ray if they get too close?
More on the Recent Flybys From Space.com
Small Asteroid Gives Earth a Close Shave, 3rd in 2 Days
http://m.space.com/24968-small-asteroid-2014ec-earth-close-shave.html
Again! New Asteroid Only 44,000 Miles From Earth's Surface | Orbit Animation
http://m.space.com/24945-again-new-asteroid-only-44-000-miles-from-earth-s-surface-orbit-animation.html
100-Foot Asteroid Buzzing Earth Today, Is Closer Than the Moon
http://m.space.com/24928-asteroid-buzzes-earth-today-webcast-2014dx110.html
