Beyond The Forecast: Asteroid Will Pass By Earth On Halloween
BOSTON (CBS) -- As if Halloween wasn't scary enough, it's the ultimate "trick-or-treat" this year as an asteroid roughly the size of a skyscraper will pass perilously close to Earth on October 31st. Yikes!
Let me say right off the "bat" that we are in no danger. However, it is a bit "spooky" that astronomers just discovered this massive asteroid a little more than a week ago, and it is going to pass just about 300,000 miles from Earth.
That may seem like a long ways away, but in space terms it is nothing. Consider that our moon averages about 240,000 miles away at any given moment.
Astronomers spend a lot of time tracking these things, and at the moment TB145 (it's official name, although many are calling it "Spooky" for short) is the largest-known asteroid to come this close to our planet until the year 2027. And, it has been nearly 10 years since we had a similar close call with a giant space rock like "Spooky."
What if an asteroid this size were to strike Earth?
Well, it likely wouldn't be a cataclysmic event like that one that took out the dinosaurs, but it would be a major, life-altering collision for sure.
If you have a telescope and want to witness the flyby on Halloween, you will need to look towards the constellation Orion, weather permitting of course.
So as you are out walking the neighborhood this Halloween, take a moment to look to the stars and be thankful for our giant sized cosmic "treat" (not a trick) this year!
