Close encounter with an asteroid and no one knew until 3 days later. Sounds like it was big enough that it would have made quite a bang but not catastrophic.
http://earthsky.org/space/asteroid-2017-oo1-close-pass-undetected?utm_source=EarthSky+News&utm_campaign=928dcb3aa0-EarthSky_News&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_c643945d79-928dcb3aa0-394005577&mc_cid=928dcb3aa0&mc_eid=d15ab0594c A space rock now designated as asteroid 2017 OO1 was detected on July 23, 2017 from the ATLAS-MLO telescope at Mauna Loa, Hawaii. An analysis of its trajectory revealed it had been closest to Earth on July 20 sometime between 10:27 p.m. to 11:32 p.m. EDT (between 02:27 to 03:32 UTC on July 21). This means the asteroid’s closest approach occurred 2.5 to 3 days before it was seen. Asteroid 2017 OO1 flyby had passed at about one-third the Earth-moon distance, or about 76,448 miles (123,031 km).
And now everyone is looking up you might see the meteor shower from the Delta Aquarid meteors
http://earthsky.org/tonight/delta-aquarid-meteors-peak-in-late-july?utm_source=EarthSky+News&utm_campaign=928dcb3aa0-EarthSky_News&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_c643945d79-928dcb3aa0-394005577&mc_cid=928dcb3aa0&mc_eid=d15ab0594c
This week – during the dark hours before dawn on or near July 28, 2017 – the Delta Aquarid meteor shower should reach its peak. The Delta Aquarids are a long, rambling shower, which will stretch out for weeks beyond the peak. The peak itself isn’t very definite, but – if you want to watch around the peak – now is the time. With no moon to ruin the show in the best hours to watch – before dawn as seen from around the world – this week is a good time to watch for these rather faint meteors, which might number about 10 to 15 meteors per hour in a dark sky. The most favorable viewing window begins about 1 a.m. (2 a.m. Daylight Saving Time) no matter where you are on Earth … through the onset of morning dawn. Although this shower is visible from both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, it tends to favor the more southerly latitudes. North of the equator, it’s better seen in the tropical and subtropical regions rather than farther north. This shower will combine with the more-famous Perseid meteor shower, now rising to its peak, but whose peak in 2017 will be drowned in bright moonlight. |