I know that's not how the phrase is meant to be read, but I can't unsee it as it flying separately by the earth and the moon and deciding to buzz one of the two a bit closer.
Car-size asteroid discovered 2 days ago flies 30 times closer to Earth than the moon
Submitted 7 months ago by throws_lemy@lemmy.nz to astronomy@mander.xyz
Comments
tiredofsametab@kbin.run 7 months ago
Serinus@lemmy.world 7 months ago
Than vs then.
tiredofsametab@kbin.run 7 months ago
Hrm, so there's a third interpretation.
someguy3@lemmy.ca 7 months ago
Is that big enough to not burn up in the atmosphere?
atzanteol@sh.itjust.works 7 months ago
This means it’s an asteroid with a weight-class that would have burned up in Earth’s atmosphere, if its orbit happened to intersect ours more directly.
dellish@lemmy.world 7 months ago
So… Asteroid that would have burned up in the atmosphere will miss us instead. I guess that’s good news?
Shdwdrgn@mander.xyz 7 months ago
A quick search suggests that something as small as 5 meters can survive hitting the ground, however there are a number of calculations to consider including the speed it is traveling, the entry angle, and the material it is made of.
atzanteol@sh.itjust.works 7 months ago
“30 times closer than the Moon” 🙄
Around 12 thousand miles (19.3 thousand kilometers).
JoMomma@lemm.ee 7 months ago
12k miles is very close, the headline is using ridiculous comparisons, but 12k is closer than many medium and high orbit satellites.
Diplomjodler3@lemmy.world 7 months ago
How much is that in elephants?
jam12705@lemmy.world 7 months ago
I’m not up to date on the latest elephant measuring units but we’re talking at lease 7.8million horse lengths away of that helps.
acockworkorange@mander.xyz 7 months ago
Rude to call your mom that.
halcyoncmdr@lemmy.world 7 months ago
Which on the scale of the solar system is essentially the width of a damned hair.
bigbadmoose@lemmy.world 7 months ago
Missed it by this 🤏 much