NASA noted that these observations “have further constrained the uncertainty surrounding the asteroid’s trajectory” and that its path predictions get better with each observation.
Though the chance of it hitting Earth still exists, you can rest a bit easier knowing there’s a 98.1 percent likelihood that it will simply pass by us harmlessly.
A photograph of the asteroid (Catalina Sky Survey/ LPL/Dr. Wierzchos/ Bryce Bolin/Twitter/@estelsiplanetes)
Bryce Bolin, an astronomer at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, expressed that he finds the asteroid “incredibly exciting.”
“Not only because of its fame, but due to the scientific opportunities to study such a small asteroid in great detail. Only a select few asteroids have been examined like this,” he remarked.
On another note, Dr. Robin George Andrews, who authored the book How to Kill an Asteroid: The Real Science of Planetary Defense, warns against attempting to alter the asteroid’s trajectory.
“Nobody wants to inadvertently ‘disrupt’ an asteroid, as those pieces could still head for Earth,” he explained. “As I often say, it’s akin to transforming a cannonball into a shotgun scatter.”
He added, “It may end up smaller or larger. If it’s too large, we might not effectively deflect it with a single spacecraft; several would be necessary to strike it perfectly, all without breaking it apart catastrophically.”
