By — Joshua Barajas Joshua Barajas Leave a comment 0comments Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/science/asteroid-flew-earth-moon Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter In Earth flyby, massive asteroid reveals a moon of its own Science Jan 27, 2015 4:41 PM EDT Earth’s close encounter with Asteroid 2004 BL86 on Monday revealed that the massive space object had a traveling companion: its own moon. The asteroid, measuring 1,100 feet across, posed no threat as it came within 745,000 miles of Earth, the closest distance a known asteroid of that size will make again for at least another two centuries. NASA’s Deep Space Network antenna in Goldstone, California, captured images of Monday’s flyby, including those of 2004 BL86’s moon, which is 230 feet across. Among the space rocks that buzz by our planet, 2004 BL86 is part a group of asteroids classified as a “binary system.” “In the near-Earth population, about 16 percent of asteroids that are about 655 feet (200 meters) or larger are a binary (the primary asteroid with a smaller asteroid moon orbiting it) or even triple systems (two moons),” NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory said in a statement. Earth won’t see another asteroid of similar size until Asteroid 1999 AN10 floats past the planet in 2027. By — Joshua Barajas Joshua Barajas Joshua Barajas is a senior editor for the PBS NewsHour's Communities Initiative. He also the senior editor and manager of newsletters. @Josh_Barrage
Earth’s close encounter with Asteroid 2004 BL86 on Monday revealed that the massive space object had a traveling companion: its own moon. The asteroid, measuring 1,100 feet across, posed no threat as it came within 745,000 miles of Earth, the closest distance a known asteroid of that size will make again for at least another two centuries. NASA’s Deep Space Network antenna in Goldstone, California, captured images of Monday’s flyby, including those of 2004 BL86’s moon, which is 230 feet across. Among the space rocks that buzz by our planet, 2004 BL86 is part a group of asteroids classified as a “binary system.” “In the near-Earth population, about 16 percent of asteroids that are about 655 feet (200 meters) or larger are a binary (the primary asteroid with a smaller asteroid moon orbiting it) or even triple systems (two moons),” NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory said in a statement. Earth won’t see another asteroid of similar size until Asteroid 1999 AN10 floats past the planet in 2027.