English 中文网 漫画网 爱新闻iNews 翻译论坛
中国网站品牌栏目(频道)
当前位置: Language Tips > 每日播报

Huge asteroid coming close to Earth

[ 2011-11-08 10:36]     字号 [] [] []  
免费订阅30天China Daily双语新闻手机报:移动用户编辑短信CD至106580009009

进入英语学习论坛下载音频 去听写专区一展身手

An asteroid bigger than an aircraft carrier will dart between the Earth and moon on Tuesday - the closest encounter by such a huge rock in 35 years.

But scientists say not to worry. It won't hit.

Don Yeomans, manager of NASA's Near Earth Object Program, assures us that he is 100 percent confident that it won’t hit.

The asteroid, named 2005 YU55, is being watched by ground antennas as it approaches from the direction of the sun. The last time it came within so-called shouting distance was 200 years ago.

Closest approach will occur at 6:28 pm EST on Tuesday when the asteroid passes within 325,000 km of Earth. That's closer than the roughly 386,000 km between the Earth and the moon.

The moon will be just under 241,000 km from the asteroid at the time of closest approach.

If 2005 YU55 were to plow into the home planet, it would blast out a crater 6.4 km across and 510 meters deep, according to expert calculations.

Scientists have been tracking the slowly spinning, spherical, dark-colored object since its discovery in 2005, and are positive it won't do any damage.

Smaller objects come close all the time, but nothing this big will have ventured so close since 1976. And nothing this large will again until 2028.

Radar observations from California and Puerto Rico will help scientists ascertain whether the asteroid is pockmarked with craters and holds any water-bearing minerals or even frozen water.

Amateur astronomers would need a 15-centimeter-or-bigger telescope and know exactly where to look to spot it.

Astronomers consider 2005 YU55 a C-type asteroid - one containing carbon-based materials.

Such objects are believed to have brought carbon-based materials and water to the early Earth, planting the seeds for life. The discovery of water-bearing minerals or ice would support that theory.

This is the type of asteroid that NASA would want to aim for, with astronauts, especially if frozen water is found. Such asteroids could serve as watering holes and fueling stations for future explorers.

Questions:

1. What is the name of the asteroid?

2. When was the last time the asteroid came this close?

3. How wide of a telescope do amateur astronomers need?

Answers:

1. 2005 YU55.

2. 200 years ago.

3. 15 cm or bigger.

(中国日报网英语点津 Helen 编辑)

Huge asteroid coming close to Earth

About the broadcaster:

Huge asteroid coming close to Earth

Emily Cheng is an editor at China Daily. She was born in Sydney, Australia and graduated from the University of Sydney with a degree in Media, English Literature and Politics. She has worked in the media industry since starting university and this is the third time she has settled abroad - she interned with a magazine in Hong Kong 2007 and studied at the University of Leeds in 2009.

 
中国日报网英语点津版权说明:凡注明来源为“中国日报网英语点津:XXX(署名)”的原创作品,除与中国日报网签署英语点津内容授权协议的网站外,其他任何网站或单位未经允许不得非法盗链、转载和使用,违者必究。如需使用,请与010-84883631联系;凡本网注明“来源:XXX(非英语点津)”的作品,均转载自其它媒体,目的在于传播更多信息,其他媒体如需转载,请与稿件来源方联系,如产生任何问题与本网无关;本网所发布的歌曲、电影片段,版权归原作者所有,仅供学习与研究,如果侵权,请提供版权证明,以便尽快删除。
 

关注和订阅

人气排行

翻译服务

中国日报网翻译工作室

我们提供:媒体、文化、财经法律等专业领域的中英互译服务
电话:010-84883468
邮件:translate@chinadaily.com.cn