[meteorite-list] NASA Scientists Talk About Asteroids Passing Near Earth Wednesday

[Ron Baalke]

Sep. 07, 2010

Dwayne Brown 
Headquarters, Washington      
202-358-1726 
dwayne.c.brown at nasa.gov 

DC Agle 
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. 
818-393-9011 
agle at jpl.nasa.gov   


MEDIA ADVISORY: M10-128

NASA SCIENTISTS TALK ABOUT ASTEROIDS PASSING NEAR EARTH WEDNESDAY

WASHINGTON -- Two asteroids will pass within the moon's distance from 
Earth on Wednesday, Sept. 8. NASA scientists will be available for 
satellite interviews Tuesday, Sept. 7, and Wednesday morning to 
discuss these near- Earth objects. 

The Catalina Sky Survey near Tucson, Ariz., discovered both objects on 
Sunday, Sept. 5. The Minor Planet Center in Cambridge, Mass., 
reviewed the observations and determined the preliminary orbits. The 
center's personnel concluded both objects would pass within the 
distance of the moon to Earth, approximately 240,000 miles. The 
asteroids should be visible with moderate-sized amateur telescopes. 

Neither asteroid will hit Earth. Asteroid 2010 RX30 is estimated to be 
approximately 32 to 65 feet in size and will pass within 
approximately 154,000 miles of Earth at 5:51 a.m. EDT Wednesday. The 
second object, 2010 RF12, estimated to be 20 to 46 feet in size, will 
pass within approximately 49,000 miles at 5:12 p.m. EDT. 

NASA scientists are available for interviews about the asteroids via 
NASA Television, Skype or telephone. TV producers can call 
818-393-5467 to schedule afternoon interviews and 202-358-1726 to 
schedule morning interviews. For NASA TV downlink, schedule and 
streaming video information, visit: 

http://www.nasa.gov/ntv 

For more information about NASA and agency programs, visit: 

http://www.nasa.gov   
	
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