Close Encounter! Bus-Sized Asteroid Skips Past Earth, NASA Confirms Safe Passage

Stargazers and space enthusiasts alike recently held their breath as a celestial visitor, a bus-sized asteroid designated 2018 CB, made a remarkably close approach to our home planet. Tracked vigilantly by NASA, this space rock, estimated to be between 15 and 40 meters (about 50 to 130 feet) in diameter, zipped past Earth on February 9, 2018, at approximately 5:30 p.m.

ET, offering a vivid reminder of the dynamic nature of our cosmic neighborhood.

While the phrase "bus-sized asteroid approaching Earth" might conjure images of impending doom for some, NASA swiftly assured the public that there was absolutely no threat of impact. The asteroid's closest point to Earth was a mere 39,000 miles (64,000 kilometers) – a distance that, while seemingly vast, is actually less than one-fifth of the way to the Moon.

To put that into perspective, many of our geosynchronous communication satellites orbit further away than 2018 CB's closest pass.

Discovered just days before its rendezvous, on February 4, 2018, by the Catalina Sky Survey, the asteroid was traveling at an astounding speed of roughly 26,000 miles per hour (42,000 kilometers per hour) as it performed its celestial flyby.

Its rapid detection and precise tracking by NASA’s Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory underscore the critical importance of continuous monitoring of Near-Earth Objects (NEOs).

Experts at NASA noted that while an object of this size passing so close to Earth is an infrequent occurrence – happening only a few times a year – it is by no means unprecedented.

The vast majority of smaller asteroids, those up to about 25 meters across, would typically burn up harmlessly in Earth's atmosphere, creating spectacular fireballs, if their trajectories were to intersect with our planet.

The close encounter with 2018 CB serves as an excellent demonstration of humanity's growing capabilities in planetary defense.

Through dedicated observation programs and advanced tracking technologies, scientists are continually cataloging and monitoring objects that could pose a potential threat. These efforts not only provide crucial early warnings but also deepen our understanding of the solar system's intricate dance, reassuring us that, for now, our planet remains safe from such celestial wanderers.