It's expected to be 6.7 million kilometers away from the Earth at its closest approach. The average distance to the moon 384,400 kilometers. It will be well outside that, around 19.5 times the distance to the moon?

Honest question, if the moon isn't a threat, and the asteroid's path is confidently calculated, is this really a dangerous asteroid? Or is it only considered dangerous because in some distant century it might hit Earth?

[–] quediuspayu@lemmy.world 7 points 1 month ago (1 children)

The way I understand it is the distant future part. Even if you calculate its orbit very well there's always a level of uncertainty that grows with time, news outlets never show the error bars.

[–] catloaf@lemm.ee 1 points 1 month ago (2 children)

Uncertainty shrinks with time.

[–] the_tab_key@lemmy.world 4 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

Uncertainty grows with increased extrapolated time, shrinks as time passes with updated measurements.

[–] quediuspayu@lemmy.world 0 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Only if you keep making measurements

[–] catloaf@lemm.ee 1 points 1 month ago

Which space monitoring agencies are sure to do.

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