Approaching asteroid bears no threat to people, Armenian astrophysicist says

YEREVAN, February 15. ARKA/. Huge asteroid that will narrowly miss the Earth Friday night poses no threat to people, Novosti-Armenia agency reported referring to vice president of Armenian astronomic association astrophysicist Areg Michaelyan.

Discovered by astronomers at the LaSagra Observatory in Spain, 2012 DA14 was estimated to veer near enough to Earth to potentially disrupt geosynchronous satellites on February 15, 2013.

Some astronomers said the chance of the asteroid hitting Earth is 0.031 percent, if it did it would hit with the force of a 2.4 megaton explosion, similar to the mysterious Tunguska event of 1908 which leveled hundreds of square miles of Siberian forest.

“The size of the asteroid is too small and the distance from the Earth is too long”, Michaelyan said adding that such objects are always under the observation of scientists.

The astrophysicist said that DA14 will have no impact on people as it will not collide with the Earth. He also said that residents of Armenia will not have chance to see the veering asteroid.

DA14 will not hit satellites either. The asteroid might be visible to people with binoculars or a telescope. The close approach will be broadcast by Slooh Space Camera, Clay Center Observatory and NASA Television.

Friday a meteorite has flared in the sky and exploded over the Russian region of Chelyabinsk, reportedly injuring over 250 people. About 20,000 rescuers are currently on the scene. The authorities say levels of background radiation are within the norms in the city. –0--