Mercifully, widespread declaration of the end of the world seems to have missed us this time. While there are many who still declare Nibiru is coming to get us and smash us into smithereens (like they said it would in 1995, 1999, 2001, 2012), and now that there is significant evidence of a reasonably good-sized planet in our solar system with an estimated 20K year-orbit, we are in no danger from this body. There is no Nibiru.
It’s a bit of forest for the trees, actually. While some doomsayers look to the edge of our solar system for indications of the end, real threats are right under our noses.
But a short time ago, predictions came out that today, a newly spotted asteroid, 2013 TX68, a near earth object (NEO) in the potentially hazardous object (PHO) category, might pass 0.04 Lunar Distances (LD) from us. That’s close! The newly found object is estimated to have a diameter of 33 meters. How significant would impact be? The object that created the Barringer Crater in north central Arizona likely measured 50 meters in diameter. The result, a crater seven-tenths of a mile wide, and a disruptive dust cloud that covered a reasonable portion of the planet for a lengthy time. Assessing the potential impact another way, the asteroid that broke up over Chelyabinsk, Russia, in February 2013, probably was 65 feet (20 meters) wide.
So, 2013 TX68 appeared as a very scary proposition. So much so that tabloids from India and the U.K., and bloggers alike have taken to the cyber airways to declare that there is a chance that 2013 TX68 will slam into Earth. However, the far more informed Center of Near Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) recently revised data for this Apollo asteroid to reassure earthlings - those earthlings who have even heard of this thing - that no harm will come from the close encounter. Since you asked, an Apollo asteroid is one that holds a semi-major axis greater than that of the Earth - greater than 1 Astronomical Unit - and has a perihelion distance less than the Earth's aphelion or, less than 1.017 AU.
CNEOS's new estimate is that the asteroid will pass at roughly three million miles (five million kilometers) from Earth. Oh, by the way, it could come closer, but absolutely, without a doubt, no closer than 15,000 miles (24,000 kilometers) from us. Wait so somewhere between 15K miles and 3M miles? That narrows it down.
The object was first discovered by the NASA-funded Catalina Sky Survey on Oct. 6, 2013 based atop Mount Lemmon, Arizona. They only had three days to observe the object after discovery before it disappeared into the daytime sky. Without much data, initial accurate predictions were not possible. Using recent observations, CNEOS predicts that 2013 TX68 cannot impact Earth any time during the next century.
For all the Chicken Little types out there, we dodged another asteroid bullet. Actually we didn’t do anything to dodge. However, some time in the future it may be necessary to do something to deflect an incoming PHO. If the object is discovered in time, that is.
If all this stuff concerns you, make sure your legislators fund sky searches to allocate funding to scan for such threatening objects. Telescopes detect new ones all the time. Should you wish to follow the close approaches of nearby asteroids, check out www.spaceweather.com. Scroll down the page and there they will be.
Meanwhile, the Sun in Pisces approaches an opposition to Jupiter in Virgo. Both square Saturn in Sagittarius. Actually, this is a great pattern. While the imagination of Pisces has big eyes, and as it gazes to Jupiter, it suspects anything is possible. Such speculations underscore virtually every law of attraction, a cosmic good stuff manifestation book in publication. There is merit to imagination, dreaming, passion and heart. The merit grows as cultivated talent, discipline, a well-founded belief system and unwavering, daily application of skill, creativity and brain power are directly applied, and with such application, satisfying Saturn.
It’s a great pattern. Knowing that no asteroid intends to put an end to things in the next few days, certainly it is time to approach life fully, embrace creativity without limitation and apply the best one has to offer as if there is no tomorrow. Who knows, maybe fate and fecundity have a date in the very near future? Only one way to find out...
And in other small solar system body news, astronomers recently named a Kuiper Belt Object. Minor solar system body 420356 (2012 BX85) received the name Praamzius. This body holds a North Node at 14 Aq 15 and perihelion of 25 Aq 06 (both heliocentric degrees). The body appears to be the least eccentric orbit in the solar system and possesses virtually non-existent inclination. Curious since Aquarius loves to be known for eccentricity. Praamzius currently transits 13 Le 15 in its 281.35 year orbit around the Sun.
Praamzius is the oldest and highest Lithuanian deity, related to the creation of the world. He is the god of the sky, peace and friendship... pretty dang good considering his Aquarian orbital elements.
More details on Praamzius to come soon.
More soon.