Massive Asteroid to Pass Close to Earth on April 19

By KM Diaz, | April 10, 2017

Since Asteroid 2014 JO25 is highly reflective, it would be difficult to see it with the naked eye. (YouTube)

Since Asteroid 2014 JO25 is highly reflective, it would be difficult to see it with the naked eye. (YouTube)

On April 19, a massive asteroid (2000 feet in size) will closely pass to the Earth. The huge space rock would be close enough that scientists and even amateurs will see it clearly in the sky.

The massive rock called "Asteroid 2014 JO25," was identified three years ago by the astronomers working with the Catalina Sky Survey, which is under NASA's NEO Observations Program. Although the size of the asteroid is considered massive, it will pass by safely and quietly within approximately 1,090,733 miles from Earth, or 4.6 times the distance between the Moon and our planet. According to Phys, Asteroid 2014 JO25 will be twice brighter than the moon, and it is a rare occurrence which happens to the planet after 400 years.

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In 2014, the massive space rock was thought to be a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" by the Minor Planet Center because of its close orbit to the earth and its sheer size. Scientists believed that it is at least 60 times the diameter of another asteroid which exploded over Chelyabinsk, Russia in 2013 and caused damages to the city.

However, astronomers have now confirmed that Asteroid 2014 JO25 is completely safe despite its massive size. The asteroid is thousand of miles away from the planet, so it poses no threat at all.

Astronomers suggest that Asteroid 2014 JO25 will be more visible on the night of April 19 because of its high elevation in the heavens. Since it is highly reflective, it would be difficult to see it with the naked eye. By using a telescope that has a scope of at least 8-inch, the asteroid can be seen with a brightness of about 10 or 11 magnitude.

The asteroid will pass across Draco during the first hours of April 19, and by night, it will be moving towards the heavens for 18 minutes. Those who are in the Northern and Southern hemispheres will also have a chance to witness the Asteroid 2014 JO25.

For Northern Hemisphere, the asteroid will appear during the early hours of April 19. While those in the Southern Hemisphere can be spotted during the night of April 19. Africa and Australia can also witness the Asteroid 2014 JO25 between April 19-20.

Aside from Asteroid 2014 JO25, the Comet PanSTARRS (C/2015 ER61) will also pass closely to the Earth on the same date. The approaching comet will be at safe distance of 109 million miles.


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