Two days ago, an asteroid the size of one of Sheffield's mega-scrapers took scientists by surprise and missed the Earth by less than 45,000 miles.

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Earth had a close encounter this morning when Asteroid 2019 OK sped by at a speed of nearly 55,000 miles per hour. The closest it came to Earth was just under 45,000 miles, much less than the distance between the Earth and Moon.

Astronomers only noticed the space rock within the past few days. Astronomers aren’t sure about its size, which ranges between 187 to 426 feet across.  

If 2019 OK had struck Earth, it could have delivered quite the blow to any city it struck. Experts suggested it would hit with some 30 times the power of the atomic bomb that destroyed Hiroshima.

http://www.astronomy.com/news/2019/07/a-large-asteroid-just-zipped-between-earth-and-the-moon

Experts suggested it would have improved Colchester.

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187 to 426 feet across

Zarniwoop wrote:

Experts suggested it would have improved Colchester.

It's just the right size to replace Firstsite.

Are we dead yet?

Fangirl Three wrote:

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187 to 426 feet across

Zarniwoop wrote:

Experts suggested it would have improved Colchester.

It's just the right size to replace Firstsite.

If they directed it to land at the Ipswich rd roundabout it could save a years roadworks.

It's happened again.

Zarniwoop wrote:

Fangirl Three wrote:

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187 to 426 feet across

Zarniwoop wrote:

Experts suggested it would have improved Colchester.

It's just the right size to replace Firstsite.

If they directed it to land at the Ipswich rd roundabout it could save a years roadworks.

It's just the excuse the council are praying for.

It's on Twitter that a load of homicidal asteroids are going to fly past the Earth tonight.

https://twitter.com/i/events/1449121549286469635

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The first, the 525-foot wide 2021 SM3, will whiz past Earth on October 15.

Seven larger asteroids are predicted to pass close by Earth before the end of November, the biggest of which, 2004 UE, has a diameter of 1,246 feet.

At 2.1 million miles, asteroid 1996 VB3, will pass closest to Earth on October 20.

Scientists say that, although very close by interstellar standards, none of the asteroids will be visible without a telescope.

The Call of the Wendigo wrote:

At 2.1 million miles, asteroid 1996 VB3, will pass closest to Earth on October 20.

Scientists say that, although very close by interstellar standards

It's the scale equivalent of a particularly small grain of sand missing a football by 57 metres.

Interestingly though, I had a long nightmare last night about terrifying meteor showers  

Another nightmare horror deathsteroid will try to murder us again today.

https://www.aol.co.uk/news/asteroid-bigger-building-earth-soar-104128315.html

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A giant asteroid, bigger than any building on Earth, is expected to soar past the planet on Tuesday.

Called 7482 (1994 PC1), the asteroid is more than a kilometre wide at 1,052m (3,451ft).

Its size means it is bigger than the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, which, at 830m (2,723ft), is the world’s tallest building.

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...at its closest will pass more than five times the moon’s distance from the planet.

That's like missing a football by 33 metres.

All these asteroids put up a big front but when it comes to the crunch they run off like little wusses.

It missed us by 60,000 miles.

Fangirl Three wrote:

That's like missing a football by 33 metres.

Something something David Beckham penalty.

Nobody remembers the misses.

You can always tell when a commentary has been added later, can't you?

It's coming back in 2036.

https://neo.ssa.esa.int/search-for-asteroids?tab=closeapp&des=2023NT1

That isn't it in the Youtube still picture above, btw. That's a fireball in the Earth's atmosphere, whereas this object didn't come closer than 60,000 miles.

That's like missing a football by 1.7 metres. A lot closer than some of the pathetic attempts previously seen on this thread.