Planetary defense campaign will use real asteroid for the first time
Friday, July 28, 2017 - 07:22
in Astronomy & Space
For the first time, NASA will use an actual space rock for a tabletop exercise simulating an asteroid impact in a densely populated area. The asteroid, named 2012 TC4, does not pose a threat to Earth, but NASA is using it as a test object for an observational campaign because of its close flyby on Oct. 12, 2017.