Keep Calm Asteroid 4660 Nereus is Shooting Wide

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Abstract

elongated egg-shaped space rock frequently comes very close to Earth, making it a potentially hazardous type of asteroid.</p><p id="7307">It will complete a 3.9 gigametre (Gm) fly-by orbit in a couple of hours. There is no need for concern, as even if this looks pretty close from an astronomical unit perspective (one AU is equal to about 92,955,807 miles (150 million km).</p><p id="03f9">At its point of maximum approach, the Eiffel tower-sized rock will dart at 0.026299 AUs from the Earth’s surface or 2.4 million miles (3.86 million km).</p><p id="1a29">Hence, this will be a totally safe passage. However, if an asteroid that size would collide with Earth, it could trigger a catastrophe in the region of impact, but not a mass extinction event on a global scale.</p><h1 id="3ca8">Final Thoughts</h1><p id="1460">NASA classifies as potentially hazardous all near-Earth objects with a diameter of around 140 meters and a minimum distance at orbit intersection (MOID) with the Earth of less than 0.05 AUs.</p><p id="194c">4660 Nereus’’ closest passage is expected for February 14, 2060, passing just 750,000 miles from Earth. It may seem quite a distance, considering that it is three times the average distance from the Moon, but it is a tr

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ifle in astronomy.</p><p id="756d">See you later; I am looking for the nearest 8-inch telescope (or larger) to watch the show.</p><p id="f157"><i>Thank you for following my journey! Please consider becoming a member if you enjoyed this article and would like to support my work<a href="https://rui-alves.medium.com/membership">.</a> For just $5 a month, you’ll get access to unlimited paywalled articles on the platform. If you sign up through this <a href="https://rui-alves.medium.com/membership">link</a>, I will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.</i></p><div id="aa6b" class="link-block"> <a href="https://rui-alves.medium.com/membership"> <div> <div> <h2>Join Medium with my referral link - Rui Alves</h2> <div><h3>As a Medium member, a portion of your membership fee goes to writers you read, and you get full access to every story…</h3></div> <div><p>rui-alves.medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*EDn6rw3sX0WCYpWl)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div></article></body>

No need to brace yourselves. It’s time to hold on to your telescopes and enjoy the show.

Nereus, an asteroid NASA classifies as “potentially hazardous” by , will make a “close pass” by Earth on Saturday, December 11, at 3:51 PM Lisbon time (10:51 AM ET).

Hence in a couple of hours, Nereus 4660 will safely hurtle over our heads at the incredible speed of 4.09 miles per second, which is equivalent to 14719.04 miles per hour.

About 4660 Nereus

Eleanor F. Helin spotted the space rock on February 28, 1982, and named it after a Titan in Greek mythology.

Asteroid 4660 is relatively small, even with roughly a kilometer in diameter and an estimated length of about 330 meters (1,083-foot).

The slightly elongated egg-shaped space rock frequently comes very close to Earth, making it a potentially hazardous type of asteroid.

It will complete a 3.9 gigametre (Gm) fly-by orbit in a couple of hours. There is no need for concern, as even if this looks pretty close from an astronomical unit perspective (one AU is equal to about 92,955,807 miles (150 million km).

At its point of maximum approach, the Eiffel tower-sized rock will dart at 0.026299 AUs from the Earth’s surface or 2.4 million miles (3.86 million km).

Hence, this will be a totally safe passage. However, if an asteroid that size would collide with Earth, it could trigger a catastrophe in the region of impact, but not a mass extinction event on a global scale.

Final Thoughts

NASA classifies as potentially hazardous all near-Earth objects with a diameter of around 140 meters and a minimum distance at orbit intersection (MOID) with the Earth of less than 0.05 AUs.

4660 Nereus’’ closest passage is expected for February 14, 2060, passing just 750,000 miles from Earth. It may seem quite a distance, considering that it is three times the average distance from the Moon, but it is a trifle in astronomy.

See you later; I am looking for the nearest 8-inch telescope (or larger) to watch the show.

Thank you for following my journey! Please consider becoming a member if you enjoyed this article and would like to support my work. For just $5 a month, you’ll get access to unlimited paywalled articles on the platform. If you sign up through this link, I will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.