A collision with an asteroid 2012 DA14 threat to Earth on February 15, 2013

According to this calculations, the orbit of the asteroid with a diameter of between 40 and 95 meters, cross the Earth orbit. Astronomers have calculated that the February 15, 2013, the asteroid will pass only 26 900 kilometers of our planet, which is lower than the orbits of geostationary satellites (about 35,000 kilometers). A recharcher said that 2012 DA14 "belongs" to the regular type asteroids approaching Earth from behind, then or later, in front of him. 

"These are objects that move from time to time near the Earth in fact, they do not go around the earth, but in a coordinate system with two centers (with the Sun and Earth) will be like to turn around Earth, "he quoted. Now it is impossible to predict what will happen in the encounter with Earth in 2012 DA14. "We have to see it, can be farther from the Earth, then closer, even enough to fall to the ground, with some probability that impact the Earth. 

Further observations will allow us to refine the orbital data and know precisely the fate of this object, the scientist said. Although the asteroid 2012 DA14, should impact the land will not result in the death of all living things, the scale can be comparable to the Tunguska catastrophe in 1908, he said. 

The celestial body belongs to the family of the Apollo asteroids, whose orbits intersect the Earth. About two thirds of known asteroids that approach Earth are of this type. According to available data, the celestial body can be measured between 40 and 95 feet long. 

Astronomers will continue to collect data on 2012 DA14 and specifying the information about his career. According to the calculations of astronomers, the larger asteroids may fall to Earth on average once every 100,000 years. In exceptional cases, may pose a threat to the existence of life on our planet, as it was during the mass extinction of the dinosaurs 65 million years. 

The biggest concern is the asteroid Apophasis, which can be found with the Earth in 2036. That object will approach the Earth April 13, 2029 at a distance of 37 to 38,000 miles. But even after seven years, April 13, 2036, Apophasis will approach the Earth at an unsafe distance, can trip over it. However, the probability of this is negligible. 

According to preliminary calculations, at 19:25 (GMT) on February 15, 2013 the celestial body will approach Earth at about 26,900 miles closer than the geostationary satellite orbits (about 35,000 km) , as published on the website of NASA. In astronomical terms would be like a "friction" between Earth and an asteroid. This celestial body is relatively small but, depending on the circumstances of the impact area and could cause considerable damage, but not globally. 

On average, an object the size of a car will enter the Earth's atmosphere at least once a year, producing a spectacular fireball in the sky. And every 2,000 years an object the size of a football field will impact the Earth, causing significant local damage. And then, every few million years, a rock with a circumference is measured in kilometers, will collide with the planet causing global effects.