What does DA14 mean for an asteroid?

Answer 1

This asteroid does exist, found in less than two weeks before the Spanish La Sagra Observatory astronomer, 2012 DA14 just temporary number. Has been found to connect 10 days of observation, astronomers generally determined its orbit, similar to the Earth's orbit, but the inclination is large. Therefore, most of the time, the asteroid away from Earth came away. But it does have two opportunities each year the asteroid can run very close to the distance of the Earth.

Just said, year 2 chances will run to the near Earth asteroid. Last February 16 this year, when it was closest to the earth about 250 million kilometers, equivalent to the Earth-Moon distance of 6 times, partial, or very far. However, next year's February 15, 2012 DA14l indeed close to the Earth. It grazed from about 21,000 kilometers from the Earth's surface, the height of the geostationary orbit communications satellites used to broadcast television signals are low than us!

Though this is really close to the Earth rub in the past, but still just "rub." In the past it does not hit the Earth. 21000 meters in astronomy scale is really close to the standards of everyday life, this distance is far enough. It is unlikely to hit the Earth in February 2012 DA14 next year.