• Radar image of an asteroid during its nearest approach to Earth. The asteroid's singular moon is pointed out using a white arrow.
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    On January 26, 2015, Asteroid 2004 BL86 performed a close flyby of Earth. This radar image of it was captured during the asteroid’s closest approach, at a distance of about 1.2 million kilometers (745,000 miles).

    The asteroid is about 325 meters (1,100 feet) across and is orbited by a small moon (arrow). To date, the flyby was the closest performed by a known asteroid of this size. While it was close enough for Earth-based study, it wasn’t close enough to be considered a threat.

    The radar image was created using data collected by NASA’s Deep Space Network in Goldstone, California.

  • Radar image of an asteroid during its nearest approach to Earth. The asteroid's singular moon is pointed out using a white arrow.

Created:

January 26, 2015

ID#:

WEB14882-2015

Source:

NASA/JPL-Caltech

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Smithsonian Institution

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