{"id":137270,"date":"2021-03-17T08:00:25","date_gmt":"2021-03-17T18:00:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=137270"},"modified":"2021-03-18T08:59:43","modified_gmt":"2021-03-18T18:59:43","slug":"maunakea-telescope-tracking-large-asteroid-flyby","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2021\/03\/17\/maunakea-telescope-tracking-large-asteroid-flyby\/","title":{"rendered":"Maunakea telescope playing vital role in tracking large asteroid flyby"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
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IRTF<\/abbr> is optimized for infrared observations which include tracking fast-moving asteroids.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

An asteroid that is estimated to be as large as the Golden Gate Bridge will make a close pass by Earth on March 21 when it is about 1.25 million miles (2 million kilometers) away or about five times the distance of the Moon. Astronomers on Maunakea are using the opportunity to improve their tracking of hazardous objects that threaten the planet. The University of Hawaiʻi<\/span> Institute for Astronomy<\/a> (IfA<\/abbr>) operated Infrared Telescope Facility<\/a> (IRTF<\/abbr>) on the summit will be used to closely analyze the characteristics of asteroid 2001 FO32 as it passes Earth. <\/p>\n

“The object\u2019s size and composition can be measured using infrared instruments,” said IRTF<\/abbr> Director John Rayner. “Measuring the physical characteristics of large Near-Earth Objects (NEO<\/abbr>s) is vital to expanding critical knowledge of hazardous objects should one ever threaten our planet. Determining whether an impacting asteroid might break up in the Earth\u2019s atmosphere or travel all the way to the ground is important for understanding how widespread the potential damage might be, and the resulting hazard to human life.”<\/p>\n

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SpeX instrument at IRTF<\/abbr> will analyze the asteroid\u2019s physical composition.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n