Originally published October 11, 2008 at 12:00 AM | Page modified October 11, 2008 at 10:07 AM
Comments (0)
E-mail article
Print view
Asteroid's path predicted for the first time
Scientists for the first time predicted the arrival of an asteroid before it entered Earth's atmosphere. The asteroid, 6 to 15 feet in diameter...
Los Angeles Times
Scientists for the first time predicted the arrival of an asteroid before it entered Earth's atmosphere.
The asteroid, 6 to 15 feet in diameter, entered the atmosphere over Sudan early Tuesday, providing a brilliant light show in East Africa as it burned up. Scientists said it posed no threat to people on the ground, though some tiny pieces of the object may have reached Earth's surface.
The important thing, scientists said, was not the discovery, but the prediction of its trajectory.
The object was first seen early Monday by the Catalina Sky Survey telescope near Tucson, Ariz. At the time, the object was outside the moon's orbit. Information from the observation was shipped to the Near-Earth Object Program Office at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in La Canada Flintridge, Calif.
"We did an impact analysis and saw that it would indeed hit" the Earth, or at least its upper atmosphere, said Don Yeomans, director of the office charged with monitoring space rubble.
Space observers, including the Department of Defense, were alerted.
Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company
More Nation & World headlines...
E-mail article
Print view Share:
Digg
Newsvine
![]()
Senate Democrats split on health bill's fate
UPDATE - 04:05 PM
SC gov faces 37 charges he broke state ethics laws
U.K. started planning early for war, leaked papers show
Vaccine to kill nicotine buzz now in late tests by small drug firm
India's feeling bruised even before White House visit

Real Salt Lake wins MLS Cup
Real Salt Lake defeated the Los Angeles Galaxy with penalty kicks after 120 minutes of play at Qwest Field in Seattle.
nwautos
Local riders say they've seen a surge in scooter interest in recent years, mostly from people wanting another commuting option. Seattle now ranks as o...
Post a comment
nwjobs
Post a comment
Michelle Goodman blogs about work/life balance.
Do you suffer from "sitting disease"?
Post a comment
- 'The Road' takes Viggo Mortensen to Mount St. Helens and Astoria, Ore.
- Tugboat sinks at Seattle waterfront pier
- Illegal workers quietly let go
- Child-support error costs nearly $21,000
- Vikings easily beat the Seahawks
- Craigslist adoption ad: A plea by young mother-to-be? A scam?
- Chase shrugs off loss of CD investors
- Woman stabbed by stranger in North Seattle
- Snow piles up on Cascade slopes
- Denny Triangle gains skyline, but tenants slow to come
- Illegal workers quietly let go
320 - Climate change speeds up since 1997 Kyoto accord
199 - Vikings easily beat the Seahawks
170 - Metro won't cut bus service after all
132 - Historic health care bill clears Senate hurdle
93 - Tattoos at Mill Creek Church pierce skin, soul
78 - New Husky recruit: Enes Kanter
73 - Jerry Brewer: Seahawks can't lean on the Hutch Crutch now
69 - UW, WSU once again meet to see who's worse
63 - Ranking the Pac
53
- Sprouts, raw fish on attorney's 'do not eat' list
- Tattoos at Mill Creek church pierce skin, soul
- Illegal workers quietly let go
- Food-safety lawyer's wish: Put me out of business
- Rediscovering Moab, 'the most beautiful place on Earth'
- It's possible to recover a life lost to hoarding
- Child-support error costs nearly $21,000
- Architects, chefs find 'kid' within to build Gingerbread Village
- 'The Road' takes Viggo Mortensen to Mount St. Helens and Astoria, Ore.
- Taste | The Great Pie Bake-off pits friends and fruit





