Asteroid 2008 BT18: 1 rock now seen as 2 asteroid buddies

William Atkins
Monday, 14 July 2008 18:57

Science - Space

Astronomers think that binary asteroids are created when energy from the Sun causes one asteroid to split in two. They also think that about 15% of near-Earth asteroids are binaries.

Asteroid 2008BT18 is considered “potentially hazardous” by NASA because its orbit has not been fully determined.

Due to this uncertainty, there is a tiny chance that some day it could collide with Earth.

Asteroids are commonly known to change their trajectory primarily due to the Sun’s gravity.

Backyard astronomers may be able to catch a glimpse of the asteroid as it passes by Earth—looking like a 13th magnitude star.

A sky map is provided by the HohmannTransfer.com website: http://www.hohmanntransfer.com/.

Additional information about Asteroid 2008 BT18 is found at AstroprofsPage.com “2008 BT18 Passing Earth.”