Scientists have revealed a small asteroid approaching Earth through a telescope. The six-foot asteroid was named 2015 TC25. After further investigations, astronomers determined that the rock is part of a bigger asteroid which was about the size of Los Angeles. Back in October 2015, the space rock was firstly observed due to the University of Arizona’s Catalina Sky Survey.
- Back in October 2015, scientists have revealed a small asteroid passing by our planet.
- Their detailed research was published in the Astronomical Journal.
Astronomer Vishnu Reddy was the one who led the team of scientists who have closely analyzed the asteroid. The meteor approaches Earth at about 128,000 kilometers. This distance represents a third of the distance between Moon and Terra. Based on the data published in the Astronomical Journal, the Near-Earth Asteroid (NEA) was characterized by using a ground-based optical which was equipped with infrared light and also some radar assets bound to examine the rock while passing by our planet.
The composition of the surface of the asteroid is similar to that of an aubrite. An aubrite is a class of high-albedo differentiated meteorites which are very rare, representing only 0.14% of all known meteorites. They are mostly composed of bright minerals, mainly silicates that form in the absence of oxygen at high temperatures. Scientists have estimated that out of a thousand meteorites which fall on Earth only one is part of this class.
This space rock it appears to rotate extremely fast, making a rotation once every two minutes. This small asteroid is ravishing, reflecting approximately 60% of the sunlight that meets its surface. Over the years, more than 15,000 Near-Earth Asteroids were revealed. After analyzing its structure, experts have established that the asteroid 2015 TC25 lack regolith on its surface. Regolith represents a layer of calcareous material which covers the asteroid.
The elemental composition of the meteor is bare rock. The 2015 TC25 accounts for a monolithic asteroid, meaning that it resembles more to solid rocks than massive asteroids composed of a rubble pile, consisting of several types of rocks which are held together by friction and gravity. Scientists have also analyzed Bennu, another asteroid. This celestial object was found during the OSIRIS-Rex sample return mission. The massive meteor is part of the second class of asteroids, being a rubble pile.
Researchers have explained in the study that the impact chances for this asteroid were insignificant. More data about both asteroids was published in the Astronomical Journal.
Image courtesy of: flickr
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