Asteroid scare prompts calls for space research
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Lagrangian points are locations in space where gravitation forces and oribital motion of a body balance each other. There are five Lagrangian points in the Sun-system, the L2 points is exposed to less sun radiation than other Lagrangian points. [Photo: China Daily] |
With images of fireballs slashing through the skies over Russia still fresh in people's minds, China's top asteroid scientist called for greater research into the dangers asteroids pose.
Major space powers have become more aware in recent years of the threat posed by objects hurtling toward Earth, but more needs to be done, said Zhao Haibin, an asteroid researcher at Purple Mountain Observatory under the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
On Feb 15, a rock 17 meters in diameter smashed into a frozen lake on the outskirts of the Russian city of Chelyabinsk in the Urals. Its shockwaves injured 1,200 people and damaged thousands of homes.
The energy unleashed was around 30 times that of the nuclear bomb dropped on Hiroshima in 1945, according to NASA estimates.
The next day a 130,000-metric-ton asteroid, with a diameter of 40 to 50 meters, passed closer to Earth than many communication and weather satellites.
Earlier last week, an asteroid slammed into Cuba, but did not cause any casualties or damage to property.
Russia is considering establishing a body to monitor asteroids.
A meteor shower rained on Jilin province in 1976, the only recorded instance of space rocks hitting the country.
But the actual number of meteor hits would be much higher, Zhao said.
There is ample evidence of meteor hits over the centuries across China.
But there is another reason asteroids are a hot topic.
As the planet's resources become increasingly scarce, countries and organizations are looking to asteroids for mineral supplies.
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