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Two Asteroids Slipped Past Earth Undetected Last Weekend
newsweek ^ | 7/12/18 at 6:00 AM | Katherine Hignett On

Posted on 07/12/2018 11:26:22 AM PDT by BenLurkin

Two tiny asteroids sneaked safely past Earth last weekend, only to be discovered hours after they'd buzzed our planet. Asteroids 2018 NX and 2018 NW zipped past our blue-green orb at distances of just 72,000 miles and 76,000 miles, respectively. That's about one-third of the distance from the Earth to the moon.

Scientists think the asteroids both stretched between about 16 feet and 50 feet in diameter. That's relatively small for near-Earth asteroids. 

Astronomers at an observatory on the Palomar Mountain range in California spotted both space rocks on Sunday, according to the International Astronomical Union's Minor Planet Center.

Although they passed our planet in quick succession, the space rocks aren't traveling as a pair. Asteroid 2018 NW raced toward our planet about five times faster than 2018 NX.

Even though astronomers didn't know they were headed toward our planet, these small asteroids didn't pose any risk to life because of their distance to Earth. They traveled relatively nearby but nowhere near close enough to penetrate our atmosphere

(Excerpt) Read more at newsweek.com ...


TOPICS: Astronomy; Science
KEYWORDS: 2018nw; 2018nx; astronomy; catastrophism; science
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1 posted on 07/12/2018 11:26:22 AM PDT by BenLurkin
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To: BenLurkin

What’s their new trajectory?


2 posted on 07/12/2018 11:27:47 AM PDT by Mr. K (No consequence of repealing Obamacare is worse than Obamacare itself.)
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To: BenLurkin

Gee, I’m sure this has never happened before. :)


3 posted on 07/12/2018 11:28:49 AM PDT by cuban leaf (The US will not survive the obama presidency. The world may not either.)
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To: BenLurkin

Start looking for what they fell off of, because it may be nearby too.


4 posted on 07/12/2018 11:29:11 AM PDT by Rurudyne (Standup Philosopher)
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To: BenLurkin

Wait - if they were undetected how did we know they went by?


5 posted on 07/12/2018 11:29:54 AM PDT by Billthedrill
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To: Mr. K

>>What’s their new trajectory?<<

Somewhere with only women and minorities.


6 posted on 07/12/2018 11:31:36 AM PDT by freedumb2003 ("please pass the winnamins" (/Principled on 6/27/2018))
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To: Billthedrill

Some one is always watching the rear view mirror.


7 posted on 07/12/2018 11:33:38 AM PDT by Paladin2 (no spelchek, no problem...)
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To: BenLurkin
The wife & I were outside around 10pm EDT a couple nights ago when we watched a huge object break & burn up in the western sky. It lasted at least 5-6 seconds and was one of the most spectacular spectacle I have seen in the sky, only shy of seeing the Northern Lights in the late '60's...

There's some big ones out there folks...

8 posted on 07/12/2018 11:37:03 AM PDT by Dubh_Ghlase
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To: BenLurkin

Well, it is rock-ette science................


9 posted on 07/12/2018 11:37:11 AM PDT by Red Badger (July 2018 - the month the world discovered the TRUTH......Q Anon)
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To: Dubh_Ghlase

What color was it?...................


10 posted on 07/12/2018 11:37:48 AM PDT by Red Badger (July 2018 - the month the world discovered the TRUTH......Q Anon)
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To: Red Badger
rock-ette science


11 posted on 07/12/2018 11:40:39 AM PDT by Magnum44 (My comprehensive terrorism plan: Hunt them down and kill them)
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To: BenLurkin
Scouts!

(just kidding)

(or am I....?)

12 posted on 07/12/2018 11:45:30 AM PDT by airborne (I don't always scream at the TV but when I do it's hockey season!)
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To: Magnum44

Zoom in a little.


13 posted on 07/12/2018 11:46:48 AM PDT by FreeperCell
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To: BenLurkin

"Look out!"
14 posted on 07/12/2018 11:47:48 AM PDT by \/\/ayne (I regret that I have but one subscription cancellation notice to give to my local newspaper.)
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To: FreeperCell

I’m tellin ya God will not allow that to happen.

He has worked too hard on this place along with all the Angels and the rest.

IMHO


15 posted on 07/12/2018 11:50:29 AM PDT by Uversabound (Might does not make right, but it does enforce the commonly recognized rights of each succeeding gen)
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To: BenLurkin

we need better borders and this crap just wouldn’t happen. Stupid undocumented asteroids.


16 posted on 07/12/2018 12:03:40 PM PDT by Karliner (Jeremiah29:11,Romans8:28 Isa 17, Damascus has fallen)
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To: Billthedrill
Wait - if they were undetected how did we know they went by?

I guess it's kind of like the "Mission Impossible" TV show. It had that as the title, but every mission was actually "possible".....
17 posted on 07/12/2018 12:07:07 PM PDT by Karma_Sherab
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To: Paladin2
Some one is always watching the rear view mirror.

"And if life is just a highway, then the soul is just a car" -Meat Loaf

18 posted on 07/12/2018 12:11:25 PM PDT by Autonomous User (During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act.)
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To: Dubh_Ghlase

This one? We live in the country in northwest Illinois. Yes, it was a beauty! Gas flame blue.

https://www.amsmeteors.org/2018/07/fireball-over-iowa-and-illinois-on-july-8th/


19 posted on 07/12/2018 12:15:40 PM PDT by CrazyIvan (A gentleman arms himself for the protection of others.)
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To: Autonomous User

seems to be happening a lot recently, hope its because we are getting better at spotting them

or, could be there are more asteroids in our neck of the woods, preceding....?

meh, lets get back to the nfl anthem protests.


20 posted on 07/12/2018 12:19:04 PM PDT by tm61 (Election 2012: we find it IS possible, to polish a turd.)
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