An asteroid of a considerable size, since it is estimated to be half a kilometer in diameter , will pass quite close to Earth on January 26. In fact, it is the first space rock of this size to come closest to our planet since it has been recorded . The asteroid has been christened 2004 BL86 and will pass three times the distance from Earth to the Moon. It will be a unique event that will not be repeated for at least 200 years.
According to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California (USA), the moment in which it will pass closest to the Earth will be next Monday, January 26, which will be when it is at 1.2 millions of kilometers from Earth .
“While it does not pose a threat to Earth in the foreseeable future , it represents a relatively close step to a relatively large asteroid, thus offering us a unique opportunity to observe and learn more,” clarifies Don Yeomans, Don Yeomans, director of the NASA Near Earth Object Program at JPL.
At the moment, absolutely everything about this asteroid is unknown, so scientists are looking forward to the days before this event to carry out all kinds of analysis and tests in order to make the most of its passage through Earth. In addition, its considerable size means that both amateurs and experts may be able to observe the asteroid with small telescopes or powerful binoculars .
Asteroid 2004 BL86 was discovered on January 30, 2004 by a telescope of the Lincoln Near-Earth Asteroid Research (LINEAR) program, in White Sands, New Mexico (USA) and the next closest flyby of a space rock does not it will be repeated until 2027 with the passage of asteroid 1999 AN10 .
