A Near Miss Coming

Ok. First off my apologies on the long delay since my last blog. Will try and do better in the future.

I do have some very interesting news tonight.

Astronomers have been watching an asteroid named 2004NM for the past year. It is a type that orbits close to the sun but does pass through Earth's orbit from time to time. In a recent near encounter, a much better fix on it's orbit was attained.

The big news is that on April 13, 2029 this comet will pass only 37,000km from Earth. Now that may sound like a long way off but in cosmic circles, that is not a near miss..it is an almost catastrophe. If you have direct TV or look at weather satellite images like me, the satellite used is at around 36,000 km high. That is Geostationary orbit.
This asteroid could come very near their orbits!!

2004NM has been renamed APOPHIS and NASA is holding meetings with experts about it. Why? Because the near miss in 2029 will change its orbit. Earth gravity will change the path and there is a slight chance that it will impact Earth in the mid 2030's.
NOT GOOD. Ruin your week type of stuff there!

There is some consideration being given to planting a radio beacon on it before 2029 so that we can track the orbit precisely. It is not out of the question that an attempt may be considered to push this asteroid out of our way...just in case.

Just Google APOPHIS if you want further info. NASA has a ton of data on it.
Here is a link to the Jet propulsion Lab Orbit simulation of the asteroid
JPL

Sleep tight :)

Dan