Radar distance Doppler image of 2020 NK1 reveals an elongated asteroid about 1 km (0.6 mi) along the longest axis. The resolution of the image in the vertical dimension is 30 ft (30 m) per pixel. It looks a lot like a bowling pin. Credit: Arecibo Observatory
Earth has one less asteroid to worry about thanks to research by an international team of scientists at the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico.
Asteroid 2020 NK1 was detected in early July by the Asteroid Terrestrial Impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) survey team at the University of Hawaii. Little was known about the asteroid, making it difficult to predict exactly where the asteroid would travel in the future. It was roughly 1,600 feet in diameter, about the length of five football fields. Prior to the Arecibo observations, in 2020 NK1 was calculated to be one of the largest threats from any known asteroid on NASA’s list of potential impactors, with approximately one chance in 70,000 of impact on Earth between 2086 and 2101.
Arecibo’s Planetary Radar Group made it a priority to observe NK1 2020 when it came within range – within 5 million miles – of the facility’s powerful instruments. In this case, the time period was short, July 30-31, about the same time that Tropical Storm Isaias was expected to hit the island.
The observatory was shut down to prepare for the storm, and as soon as it passed, the team jumped into action to detect and study the asteroid. Even when parts of the island lost power and damage were assessed, the Arecibo team was able to determine the shape, orbit and motion of the asteroid.
“Fortunately, the storm passed quickly without damage to the telescope or the radar system, and the maintenance and electronics teams were able to activate the telescope from the hurricane lockdown in time for the observations,” says Sean Marshall, an observatory scientist leading the team during the radar observations.
The team of scientists and telescopic operators were able to observe the asteroid for two and a half hours, collecting accurate measurements of the speed and distance of the Earth’s asteroid, as well as high-resolution images of the asteroid. “These measurements greatly enhance our knowledge of the orbit of the NK1 2020 2020 and make predictions of the future where they may come decades,” says Patrick Taylor, a Texas scientist at the Lunar and Planetary Institute, part of the Universities Space Research Association, who participated in the remark at a distance.
The observations showed that the asteroid is not expected to come close to Earth to pose a danger in the future, with its closest approach coming in 2043 when it will pass about 2.25 million miles from Earth – or more than 9 times earlier than the month, the team concluded
The obtained radar images show an elongated shape and a diameter along its longest axis of about 0.6 miles.
“This event was a great example of the important role that the Arecibo radar system plays in planetary science and planetary defense. It shows that we have very fast response times and high precision range, motion and measurement capabilities, despite storm, the COVID “19 pandemics and earthquakes that have dealt with Puerto Rico this year,” said Anne Virkki, head of the Planetary Radar group at the Arecibo Observatory.
2020 NK1 is one of many potentially dangerous objects (PHO) that NASA is following. Asteroids are considered PHOs when they are larger than 500 feet in diameter and come within 5 million miles of Earth’s orbit. No known PHOs pose an immediate danger to Earth, but observations such as those made at the Arecibo Observatory are used to determine their future trajectories and risks.
Arecibo is conducting a program supported by a NASA grant to observe and characterize objects in Earth’s orbits that pose a potential danger to Earth if they could be candidates for future space missions.
The observatory is home to the most powerful and sensitive planetary radar system in the world, which means that it is also a unique tool available for analyzing NEOs, such as asteroids and comets. The knowledge gained from radar observations helps NASA’s Planetary Defense Coordination Bureau determine which objects pose significant risks, and when and what to do to reduce them. NASA officials can also use the information to determine which objects are most viable for scientific missions – landing on an asteroid is not only easy for everyone.
Asteroids that look near Earth bring their own face mask
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