On January 26, 2004 asteroid BL86 will pass through Earth and become the closest “frog” object of all time.
Recently, NASA experts announced that on January 26, the asteroid with number 2004 BL86 will pass through Earth at the closest distance in astronomical history.
As a result, this approximately 0.53 km-sized asteroid “frogs” our planet at a distance of 1,198,961 km, or 3 times the distance from Earth to the Moon.
According to NASA experts, such a distance is considered astronomically close. However, with its small size, 2004 BL86 will not pose a threat to life on Earth.
They also added that it is not until 2027 that the record for the closest asteroid to pass Earth is likely to be broken. This is when asteroid 1999 AN10 could pass through Earth at a distance of 30,577 km.
However, what makes the BL86 2004 so interesting is that scientists can observe them with small telescopes. This helps them better understand this celestial body in particular and asteroids in general, thus searching for other material ores on their surface as fuel for space exploration.
Specifically, this will be the only time 2004 BL86 has come close to Earth in the next 200 years. Therefore, NASA experts diligently prepared to be able to best observe and analyze the visit of this celestial body.
Asteroid 2004 BL86 was first discovered on January 30, 2004 by astronomers using the Lincoln Telescope in White Sands, New Mexico.
