- Yearly, Earth plows by icy particles left behind by Comet Encke. These small particles strike Earth and light-weight the sky in an annual meteor bathe often known as the Taurids.
- Astronomers feared there have been bigger chunks – maybe kilometer-sized rocks – within the comet’s orbit, which could additionally plow into Earth with harmful pressure.
- However a brand new research suggests there are fewer giant asteroids than as soon as anticipated, maybe simply 9 to 14. In addition they assume Comet Encke itself is about 10 instances smaller than they as soon as believed.
The College of Maryland printed this authentic article on October 7, 2024. Edits by EarthSky.
Doomsday asteroid swarm not going
Astronomers have excellent news about doubtlessly hazardous asteroids lurking close to our planet: there aren’t as many as we thought.
A staff of researchers led by the College of Maryland used the Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF) telescope to survey giant expanses of sky. They investigated a stream of area particles recognized to float close to Earth known as the Taurid swarm. The Taurids are possible remnants of a giant comet known as Encke. They seem from Earth as extremely seen meteor showers in October and November. This area has lengthy intrigued astronomers as a consequence of its potential for harboring hidden, harmful asteroids. However researchers couldn’t verify or disprove the existence of such hazards … till now.
The group introduced its findings on the American Astronomical Society’s Division for Planetary Sciences annual assembly on October 8, 2024.
Quanzhi Ye, who supervised the mission and is an assistant analysis scientist in UMD’s Division of Astronomy, stated:
We took benefit of a uncommon alternative when this swarm of asteroids handed nearer to Earth, permitting us to extra effectively seek for objects that would pose a risk to our planet. Our findings recommend that the danger of being hit by a big asteroid within the Taurid swarm is way decrease than we believed, which is nice information for planetary protection.
Giant asteroids within the Taurid swarm?
Previous to this research, researchers speculated the Taurid swarm contained a substantial variety of giant, kilometer-class area rocks. These rocks would’ve been left behind by a big object presumably as much as 100 kilometers (62 miles) huge. Giant objects could cause regional harm in the event that they had been to influence Earth. For instance, the Chelyabinsk asteroid that hit Russia in 2013 injured greater than 1,600 individuals. Even bigger objects could cause extinction-level occasions, such because the asteroid that killed the dinosaurs over 66 million years in the past.
Ye defined:
Happily, we discovered that it’s possible there could solely be a handful of asteroids – maybe solely 9 to 14 of them – that match this huge dimension class within the swarm. Judging from our findings, the dad or mum object that initially created the swarm was most likely nearer to 10 kilometers in diameter somewhat than an enormous 100-kilometer object. Whereas we nonetheless should be vigilant about asteroid impacts, we will most likely sleep higher realizing these outcomes.
Essential clues to planetary evolution
In line with Ye, the Taurid swarm holds necessary clues about planetary evolution, particularly as a consequence of its connection to Comet Encke. Encke has the one of many shortest orbital intervals (the time it takes to finish one rotation across the solar) of recognized comets at simply 3.3 years. It’s additionally unusually giant and dusty for a short-period comet (orbiting the solar in 200 years or much less). Contemplating all accessible proof, scientists imagine Encke skilled important fragmentation prior to now. And it could proceed to collapse equally sooner or later.
Ye stated:
Learning the Taurid swarm helps us perceive how small celestial our bodies like comets and asteroids kind and break aside over time. Our analysis has implications not only for asteroid detection and planetary protection, but additionally for our broader understanding of photo voltaic system objects.
Whereas the research’s outcomes are reassuring, the staff believes that in addition they underscore the necessity for ongoing vigilance and improved detection capabilities. Utilizing superior amenities such because the ZTF telescope, which may effectively conduct huge sky surveys and observe doubtlessly hazardous near-Earth objects, the researchers plan to conduct follow-up observations within the coming years when the Taurid asteroid swarm passes near Earth once more. Ye stated:
We now have alternatives in 2025 and 2026 to additional refine our outcomes. In consequence, we’re excited to proceed this necessary work.
Backside line: Astronomers finding out the particles that causes the Taurid meteor bathe stated it’s unlikely there’s a doomsday asteroid swarm with many giant asteroids hidden within the particles.
