Prediction: Large Fire balls in the next few days. Here's why:

Mountain-Size Asteroid to Fly by Earth Monday: How NASA Will Watch

A mountain-size asteroid will zoom past Earth Monday (Jan. 26), marking the closest pass by such a large space rock until 2027. Asteroid 2004 BL86, which is about 1,800 feet (550 meters) wide, will come within 745,000 miles (1.2 million kilometers) of our planet Monday — about three times the distance between Earth and the moon. While this flyby poses no threat to Earth, it does present a rare opportunity to get a good look at a near-Earth asteroid, NASA officials say.

www.space.com...

I think these big asteroids have "clingers".
Smaller asteroids that basically are in tow.

We shall see what we shall see.

a reply to: canucks555

Yes I've heard that the big ones have smaller pieces accompanying them, but not all the time. Honestly, a big one will hit one day, let's just hope it's not anytime soon. I think we have Apophis in the 2020s or 2030s? S + F, I didn't even know this one was coming.

a reply to: canucks555

Yep, those Assteroids probably have a few Hemorrhoids in tow, it just "Depends" on whether it's passing (gas) in front of our path or behind us.

Cheers - Dave

If it's mountain size then it may have come into contact with other objects. The collisions, depending on size, could create a debris field.
Question is whether that debris field could stretch out 3 times the distance of the moon.
Given time, and collisions, who knows?

* I'm no expert, just seems logical to me.

I'll put my bet on some fireballs. Now the orbit of asteroids around an asteroid can go in many different possible directions. This asteroid is going to be a little over 3 LD and that is a little far for bigger rocks, but I would say it is plenty good for some smaller fireballs. It sure would be great if there was a big fireball that broke windows though, we haven't had one like that for a while.

I heard about this on the radio, said it would be a close pass.

Hopefully everything will be okay, and it won't hurt anyone.

I generally try to ignore these types of things, as they scare me, and I don't like doom porn.

originally posted by: ChiefD
I heard about this on the radio, said it would be a close pass.

Hopefully everything will be okay, and it won't hurt anyone.

I generally try to ignore these types of things, as they scare me, and I don't like doom porn.

It's Science, not Doom porn.

Asteroids that have a fan club will have distances more in meters, than LD's
They may also have dust debris spread over the same orbit.

a reply to: canucks555

Yes, I realize it's science. I call it doom porn because it makes me feel better.

I'm 50, and as I age, I get more skittish about these types of things.

Did anyone else catch this?

Benner also postulates that such work will benefit commercial companies that plan to visit and mine asteroids in the future.

Will be watching this one. Fireballs would definitely do it for me on a Monday.

Hopefully none of the wee bits damage any satellites. There is a hell of a lot of them up there. (Satellites, not wee bits)

a reply to: canucks555


I predict tomorrow, some where in the world... some one will eat a cheeseburger.... maybe 2.... with bacon........


There is a fireball somewhere in the world every day. Every #ing day, regardless of a fly by, regardless of whether we have video. It happens multiple times almost every single #ing day.

This isn't a rare phenomena, it isn't necessarily increasing, it isn't decreasing either. This is on a scale that can not be compared by human minds mainly because there is little to 0 evidence left for us to compare.

a reply to: Hijinx

A fire ball that's related to the object. Which, I know, will be hard to prove.(Or disprove)

Is it a loaded prediction? Of course!

-all fun.

I think it's too far away for any of its possible companions to strike the Earth's atmosphere. 1 Lunar Distance is a very big chunk of empty space (you could comfortably fit all of the Solar System planets between the Moon and the Earth), and this asteroid is passing 3 times that.

However, never say never. It would be cool to get a "Chelyabinsk" meteor over Washington.

originally posted by: wildespace
I think it's too far away for any of its possible companions to strike the Earth's atmosphere. 1 Lunar Distance is a very big chunk of empty space (you could comfortably fit all of the Solar System planets between the Moon and the Earth), and this asteroid is passing 3 times that.

Correct. there will be no fireballs produced from this asteroid flyby.

originally posted by: JadeStar

originally posted by: wildespace
I think it's too far away for any of its possible companions to strike the Earth's atmosphere. 1 Lunar Distance is a very big chunk of empty space (you could comfortably fit all of the Solar System planets between the Moon and the Earth), and this asteroid is passing 3 times that.

Correct. there will be no fireballs produced from this asteroid flyby.

Well if there are I suppose we can blame it on the Klingons

originally posted by: JessicaRabbitTx
Did anyone else catch this?

Benner also postulates that such work will benefit commercial companies that plan to visit and mine asteroids in the future.

Their intention to mine asteroids has been known for a while. I believe Google has registered an interest in being involved in this.

a reply to: canucks555

Fulfilled :

I can think of a few places I would like to direct those fireballs to!

Suggestions are that the asteroid will be visible using even binoculars, so any fireballs might be easily seen.

There is always the chance of it going off projected course. A total human wipe out scenario might be a good idea.

a reply to: bobs_uruncle

Oh bathroom humor. How insightful.

There is no presidence for this. The Russia fireball was around the same time as a near earth passage of an asteroid but they were said to be unrelated. Just coincidence.