Asteroids 101
Scientists recently released information about an asteroid that is likely to pass very close to the Earth in October 2028. At this point, Asteroid 1997 XF11, which is estimated to be about a mile in diameter, is thought to have little chance of colliding with the Earth.
Yet, in a culture fascinated by the fictional disasters brought to us by Hollywood, the asteroid is already generating an astronomical amount of attention.
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Speculations on whether 1997 XF11 will bring disastrous consequences to the Earth or just a good show will only be confirmed after several years of research. In the meantime, people have the chance to learn something about those outer-space objects that normally seem as distant from our concerns as they are from the Earth.
Here are some resources you can use to start educating yourself:
* The Discovery of Asteroids: A Short History
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