22-December-2004, 07:27 PM
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Established Member
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Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: :noitacoL
Posts: 2,123
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Small Asteroid Passes Between Satellites and Earth
I couldn't find this here so I don't think I've been toseeked, guess we'll see. 
Small Asteroid Passes Between Satellites and Earth
Quote:
Astronomers spotted an asteroid this week after it had flown past Earth on a course that took it so close to the planet it was below the orbits of some satellites.
The space rock was relatively small, however, and would not have posed any danger had it plunged into the atmosphere.
The object, named 2004 YD5, was about 16 feet (5 meters) wide, though that's a rough estimate based on its distance and assumed reflectivity. Had it entered the atmosphere, it would have exploded high up, experts figure.
[snip]
The asteroid passed just under the orbits of geostationary satellites, which at 22,300 miles (36,000 kilometers) altitude are the highest manmade objects circling Earth. Most other satellites, along with the International Space Station, circle the planet at just a few hundred miles up.
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