Scientists just realized that an asteroid currently speeding past our planet at six times the distance of the moon is not a single object, but two objects orbiting one another:
“It will not strike the planet. But scientists want to learn more about binary asteroids because one day they might find one headed our way. Deflecting a binary off course could be considerably more challenging than altering the path of a single rock…The objects are estimated to be 1,970 feet (600 meters) and 650 feet (200 meters) in diameter. The larger one rotates upon its axis in 3 hours or less.”
You may have missed…
Mars Phoenix Lander Finds Ice? [tr]
Mars Orbiter Photographs Phoenix Mars Lander in Descent [tr]
Third Red Spot Erupts on Jupiter [tr]
Reconnaissance Orbiter Photographs Avalanche on Mars [tr]
