(29075) 1950 DA
 |
Asteroid 1950 DA |
(29075) 1950 DA is an asteroid considered to be the
near Earth object with the highest known
probability of
crashing into
Earth, according to the
Palermo Technical Impact Hazard Scale. However, for a few days in December
2004 it was temporarily surpassed by
99942 Apophis (which at the time was named only by its
provisional designation 2004 MN
4).
This
Mars-crosser asteroid was first discovered on
February 23,
1950 by
Carl A. Wirtanen at
Lick Observatory; it was observed for 17 days and then faded from view for half a century. Then, an object discovered on
December 31,
2000 (provisionally designated 2000 YK
66) was recognized as being the long-lost 1950 DA.
It has been given the number 29075, but does not have a name.
Radar observations were made at the
Goldstone and
Arecibo Observatory from
March 3 to
7,
2001 during the asteroid's 7.8 Gm approach to the Earth (a distance 21 times larger than that separating the Earth and
Moon). Radar echoes revealed a slightly asymmetrical spheroid with a mean diameter of 1.1 km.
Optical observations showed the asteroid rotated once every 2.1 hours, the second fastest spin rate ever observed for an asteroid its size.
Due to its relatively fast spin, it is thought to be fairly dense. If it continues on its present orbit, it will approach near to the Earth on
March 16,
2880 with the probability of impact being
1⁄
300. The energy released by a collision with 1950 DA could cause an
extinction event, destroying most life on the planet. Current calculations show that it would hit the North Atlantic ocean, creating a monstrous
tsunami.
Since the re-discovery of 1950 DA, scientists have been considering various
asteroid deflection strategies.
*
List of noteworthy asteroids*
Torino scale*
Palermo scale*
NASA Near Earth Object Program: Asteroid 1950 DA*
Article on the effects of a hypothetical impact, with particular relation to a predicted megatsunami (SPACE.com)... | Previous asteroid | (29075) 1950 DA | Next asteroid | ...
