Asteroid 2020 SW Set to Pass Closely by Earth This Thursday
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Chapter 1: Introduction to Asteroid 2020 SW
On Thursday, September 24, Asteroid 2020 SW, a rock comparable in size to a recreational vehicle, will make a close approach to Earth, passing at a distance of approximately 36,000 kilometers (22,000 miles) above our planet's surface. While this distance may seem considerable, it is quite close in astronomical terms, even closer than the satellites in geosynchronous orbits.
The asteroid is expected to reach its nearest point to Earth at 4:12 a.m. PDT (7:12 a.m. EDT) on September 24, passing over the Southeastern Pacific Ocean. Discovered just days earlier on September 18 by astronomers at the Catalina Sky Survey in Arizona, this celestial body is drawing attention from the scientific community.
Section 1.1: Understanding the Approach
NASA’s Center for Near-Earth Object Studies has created an animation illustrating the path of asteroid 2020 SW as it safely glides past Earth on September 24, 2020. This animation also highlights the position of a typical geosynchronous satellite, which orbits around 22,000 miles (36,000 kilometers) above the Earth's equator.
“There are numerous small asteroids like this one that approach our planet a few times every year. On average, objects of this size enter our atmosphere about once every one to two years,” commented Paul Chodas, director of NASA's CNEOS.
Section 1.2: The Implications of Close Passes
As Neil deGrasse Tyson humorously stated, “I don’t want to be the embarrassment of the galaxy to have had the power to deflect an asteroid, and then not, ending up going extinct.”
By analyzing the light reflected from asteroid 2020 SW, scientists estimate its diameter to be between 4.5 and 9 meters (15 to 30 feet). Should it collide with Earth, the likely outcome would be a fireball that disintegrates high in the atmosphere, generating a few viral videos and memes.
Chapter 2: The Search for Near-Earth Objects
Astronomers estimate that around 100 million objects similar in size to 2020 SW are present in the inner solar system. However, due to current technological limitations, these smaller bodies can only be detected when they are very close to Earth. As a result, astronomers primarily focus on locating larger objects that pose a greater risk of impact.
Near-Earth objects (NEOs) are closely monitored by researchers aiming to understand the potential hazards they represent. The extinction event that occurred roughly 66 million years ago, when an asteroid the size of Mount Everest struck Earth near the Yucatan Peninsula, serves as a stark reminder of this risk.
“The detection capabilities of NASA’s asteroid surveys are improving continuously, and we can now expect to identify asteroids of this size a couple of days before their near-Earth encounters,” Chodas remarked.
Although asteroid 2020 SW will come remarkably close to Earth, it will be too faint to observe without assistance. However, the Virtual Telescope Project will provide opportunities for interested viewers to catch a glimpse of this interplanetary visitor.
The asteroid is predicted to return for another close pass in 2041, although that encounter will not be nearly as close.
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This video provides online observations of the extremely close encounter with Near-Earth Asteroid 2020 SW.
An overview of how Asteroid 2020 SW will give Earth a close shave, coming within about 13,000 miles.