It looks as if the space rock has a mask on as it approaches our planet.
The radio telescope at the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico has been able to observe the potentially dangerous asteroid 1998 OR2, whose size is calculated to be at least 1.5 kilometers in diameter. Although his trajectory will bring him closer to Earth this April 29, space agencies have stressed that there is no risk of any impact.
The asteroid will pass at a speed of 8.69 km per second, at a minimum distance of 6.28 million km above the surface of our planet, or approximately 16.4 times the distance from Earth to the Moon.
#TeamRadar and the @NAICobservatory staff are taking the proper safety measures as we continue observations. This week we have been observing near-Earth asteroid 1998 OR2, which looks like it’s wearing a mask! It’s at least 1.5 km across and is passing 16 lunar distances away! pic.twitter.com/X2mQJCT2Qg
– Arecibo Radar (@AreciboRadar) April 18, 2020
The image, from October 18, allows a rounded shape to be glimpsed, although the most striking thing is that the brightness of the sun on its surface makes it seem that it is approaching our planet with a mask, according to the Observatory itself in its Twitter account, adding images of their own technicians with this face protection in the context of the security measures in force around the world to face the COVID-19 pandemic.
Since his discovery in 1998, space agencies around the world have been following him closely and have accurately acquired his orbital data.
Source: Arecibo Observatory.
