Introducing 2008 TC3
- Mon Oct 6 2008
- Astronomy
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At around 0246 UT (about two hours and twenty minutes from now), the Earth will be hit by an asteroid. 2008 TC3 was discovered last night by Richard Kowalski and a team at Mt. Lemmon Observatory in Arizona, and further observations pinned down its orbit enough that calculations can be made that predict the asteroid will enter the Earth’s atmosphere somewhere near Sudan.
But don’t worry! This asteroid is between 2 and 5 meters in diameter. Asteroids this size enter the Earth’s atmosphere all the time at a rate of a few per year. This is the first time one’s been spotted before it enters the atmosphere though.
If you want to pretend you’re on 2008 TC3 as it barrels into the Earth, check out this awesome animation.
