Asteroids

Asteroids are solid objects which orbit within the Solar System. They are generally made out of rock or metal, although many asteroids are known to contain ice and dust. Nearly all known asteroids originate from a region between Mars and Jupiter called the Asteroid Belt.

On March 18, 2009, an asteroid measuring 43 feet by 95 feet came within 49,000 miles of the Earth. The asteroid, named 2009 FH, was only discovered two nights prior to its fly by. However, officials say that there was never any real danger of a collision. This marks the second near miss asteroid to come this close to the Earth undetected in the same month.FOX New: Close Call: ... (March 18, 2009)

• C-Type
  1. Also known as carbonaceous objects
  2. Carbon-rich, rocky composition
  3. Classify about three-quarters of known asteroids
• S-Type
  1. Also known as silicaceous objects
  2. Made mostly of Iron-rich rock
  3. Classify about one-sixth of known asteroidsNASA: Solar System Exploration - Asteroids

On March 2, 2009, asteroid 2009 DD45 passed at 41,010 miles miles above the earth. The "surprise asteroid" was not identified until February 28, 2009, when it was discovered an image taken at the Siding Spring Observatory in Australia.National Geographic: Surprise Asteroid Buzzed Earth Monday (March 2, 2009)

• Wikipedia: Potentially Hazardous Asteroid

• Wikipedia: Palermo Technical Impact Hazard Scale

• NASA: Potentially Hazardous Asteroids

• NASA: Orbits of All Known Potentially Hazardous Asteroids

• NASA: Near-Earth Asteroid Discovery Statistics

• NASA: Asteroid and Comet Impact Hazards

• NASA: The Torino Impact Scale

• NASA: Current Impact Risks

• The Open University: Rocks From Space: Near-Earth Objects

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