4 ms·

New object, current 1-in-625 chance of impact, impact could cause local death and damage, more observational data will refine the trajectory estimations. I can

by nawgz 4y ago

New object, current 1-in-625 chance of impact, impact could cause local death and damage, more observational data will refine the trajectory estimations. I can't really tell how news-like this is. Mostly, my question would be: this object is called 2023 DW, does it mean we went 2023 AA, AB, ..., DA, DB, ... DW? If so it's interesting that only ~100 new asteroids are observed and labeled so far this year. Maybe the categorization is somehow different than I understand.

LegionMammal978 4y ago
"2023 DW" is a provisional minor-planet designation [0]. The "D" indicates that it was discovered in the second half of February (Feb. 16-28), and the "W" indicates that it was the 22nd minor planet discovered in that time frame. [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Provisional_designation_in_astronomy#New-style_provisional_designation https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Provisional_designation_in_ast...
esnard 4y ago
It's indeed somehow different, not sure exactly how it works though: > Between 2023 BG5 discovered on January 26 and 2023DQ a "PHA" (potentially hazardous asteroid) discovered on February 23 [...] > Then, on the 26th we discovered 2023 DV and 2023DW, and on the 27th, 3 new asteroids, 2023DX, 2023DN1 and 2023 DT1. From https://www.spaceobs.com/en/Alain-Maury-s-Blog/2023-DW https://www.spaceobs.com/en/Alain-Maury-s-Blog/2023-DW
isaacg 4y ago
This object is rated as a 1 on the Torino scale, which combines probability of impact with size to get an overall danger level. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torino_scale https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torino_scale The last time an asteroid reached a 1 on the Torino scale was late January. That asteroid is 2023 AJ1. It was downgraded to 0 on the scale in early February, after further observations decreased the estimated chance it will hit the earth. Overall, objects reach a 1 on the Torino scale 3-4 times a year. No objects have reached level 2 or above since 2006.
- perihelions 4y ago
  That Wikipedia entry is great. - "Due to exaggerated press coverage of Level 1 asteroids, a rewording of the Torino Scale was published in 2005, adding more details and renaming the categories: in particular, Level 1 was changed from "Events meriting careful monitoring" to "Normal".

by nawgz 4y ago

LegionMammal978 4y ago

"2023 DW" is a provisional minor-planet designation [0]. The "D" indicates that it was discovered in the second half of February (Feb. 16-28), and the "W" indicates that it was the 22nd minor planet discovered in that time frame. [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Provisional_designation_in_astronomy#New-style_provisional_designation https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Provisional_designation_in_ast...

esnard 4y ago

It's indeed somehow different, not sure exactly how it works though: > Between 2023 BG5 discovered on January 26 and 2023DQ a "PHA" (potentially hazardous asteroid) discovered on February 23 [...] > Then, on the 26th we discovered 2023 DV and 2023DW, and on the 27th, 3 new asteroids, 2023DX, 2023DN1 and 2023 DT1. From https://www.spaceobs.com/en/Alain-Maury-s-Blog/2023-DW https://www.spaceobs.com/en/Alain-Maury-s-Blog/2023-DW

isaacg 4y ago

This object is rated as a 1 on the Torino scale, which combines probability of impact with size to get an overall danger level. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torino_scale https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torino_scale The last time an asteroid reached a 1 on the Torino scale was late January. That asteroid is 2023 AJ1. It was downgraded to 0 on the scale in early February, after further observations decreased the estimated chance it will hit the earth. Overall, objects reach a 1 on the Torino scale 3-4 times a year. No objects have reached level 2 or above since 2006.

perihelions 4y ago
That Wikipedia entry is great. - "Due to exaggerated press coverage of Level 1 asteroids, a rewording of the Torino Scale was published in 2005, adding more details and renaming the categories: in particular, Level 1 was changed from "Events meriting careful monitoring" to "Normal".