An asteroid traveled at 27,860 kilometers away from the Earth

February 15, 2013

According to NASA, the asteroid 2012DA14 traveled 27,860 kilometers away of the Earth around 4:24 pm in Argentina. This became the closer asteroid that has ever traveled through our planet, as confirmed by the space agency.

A year ago, Spanish astronomers detected the 2012DA14 at approximately 4.3 million kilometers from Earth, although approaching at a speed of 28,100 kilometers per hour.

At 4:24 pm, the asteroid, of about 45 meters wide, passed over Sumatra (Indonesia) and was located about 8050 kilometers below the nearly 400 geo synchronous satellites placed into orbit by the human.

The first detection of its existence was made on February 23, 2012 by astronomers at the observatory of La Sagra, in Mallorca. Since then, space agencies of the world have followed its course.

In addition, NASA ruled that the asteroid could not strike the Earth, and that it shall not approach within 17,520 miles.

The Earth constantly receives a shower of asteroids, the vast majority are small and burn by friction when penetrating the atmosphere.