Wander Thoughts

• Research Validates That Asteroid Bennu Contains the Elemental Building Blocks of Life.

A city-destroying asteroid with the potential to head towards Earth is featured in a new video, offering a first glimpse of what is approaching.

NASA spotted a roughly 200-foot-wide space rock, labeled asteroid 2024 YR4, approximately 35 million miles away from our planet.

The video depicted the asteroid as a bright, rapidly moving white dot soaring through the blackness of space, against the backdrop of numerous other glowing celestial objects.

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The initial detection enabled them to capture images of the celestial body's trajectory, showcasing it careening through space as it orbits the sun in an elliptical shape.

The Sentry system's automated list of potentially hazardous nearby objects, which ranks known Near Earth Objects (NEOs) based on their likelihood of colliding with our planet.

'As is common, the initial orbit was calculated with some degree of approximation, and the predicted uncertainties for 2032 were substantial enough to make the likelihood of the object being on a precise collision course extremely low,' the space agency stated.

As further observations are taken, the orbit has become more precisely defined, and the predicted possible range of positions for the Earth in 2032 has significantly narrowed down, with the Earth still falling within the swath of possible locations.

it will have a significant impact, especially if it lands in a densely populated area like a major city.

When it pierced the Earth's atmosphere in 1908, reportedly causing the deaths of three people.

The explosion detonated in the air over Siberia and caused an impact similar to detonating 50 million tons of TNT. As a result, an estimated 80 million trees across an area of 830 square miles of forest were flattened.

If object 2024 YR4 enters Earth's atmosphere, it could possibly disintegrate in mid-air like the Tunguska asteroid.

Asteroid 2024 YR4 is projected to potentially collide with Earth, landing somewhere along a hazard zone that spans across the eastern Pacific Ocean, northern South America, the Atlantic Ocean, Africa, the Arabian Sea, and South Asia, according to NASA.

But astronomers also state that it could possibly remain intact during its descent and slam into the ground, resulting in the formation of a massive crater and causing devastation to human communities within the impact zone.

Astronomers have identified the 'risk corridor' or the area where the asteroid '2024 YR4' is likely to impact, following preliminary observations.

In addition, the potential for 2024 YR4 to cause damage will be determined by a more precise calculation of its size as well as its internal characteristics and composition that scientists are still gathering information on.

As the asteroid draws nearer, astronomers should be able to conduct more detailed observations, which can help them comprehend the asteroid's exact size, composition, and structure, specifically that of 2024 YR4.

Regardless, the chances of 2024 YR4 impact are low. According to astronomers, it is much more probable that this asteroid will safely pass by our planet in 2032.

In fact, astronomer and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) professor Richard P Binzel said to Wander Thoughtsthat he believes the likelihood of a direct impact will eventually become virtually non-existent.

"We anticipate that the probability will fluctuate for a while until we collect more observations that allow us to more precisely determine the asteroid's orbital path," he said.

"This is simply how scientific data measurements unfold," he said.

Astronomers will closely monitor the space rock over the next eight years to better understand the potential risks it poses to Earth.

At present, asteroid 2024 YR4 is assessed as having a level 3 rating on the Torino scale, a methodology for classifying potential Earth impact hazards.

A rating of three implies the asteroid deserves attention from astronomers, as it is likely to have a close encounter with Earth and poses a larger than one percent chance of impact.

It's a scale from zero to 10, with higher numbers indicating a higher level of potential impact.

Most Near Earth Objects never reach a leveleven on the scale.

Now that 2024 Object 4 has been identified as a prospective – but improbable – peril, the pursuit to gain as much knowledge about it as possible before 2032 has begun.

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• Recent discoveries by scientists suggest the existence of a hidden cavern beneath the moon's surface.

A trip to the Grand Canyon is a definite entry on the itinerary for anyone embarking on a US road trip.

Isn't Arizona the only place where an ambitious explorer can find a Grand Canyon.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration's spacecraft, Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, has captured images of two vast impact basins on the lunar surface.

Named Vallis Schrödinger and Vallis Planck, these measure 270 kilometers long and 2.7 kilometers deep, and 280 kilometers long and 3.5 kilometers deep, respectively.

It makes them as long as the Grand Canyon and over three times as deep at their lowest points.

Scientists claim these riverbeds date back over six to seven million years, were formed in a mere 10 minutes.

The moon's canyons stretch out from a crater known as the Schrödinger impact basin, a 320-kilometer-wide crater located near the southernmost point of the moon, which was formed when a meteor collided with the lunar surface.

The researchers believe that these lunar valleys were carved into the rock by a stream of rocks ejected from the violent impact that occurred 3.81 billion years ago.

The Schrödinger crater is situated on the outskirts of the moon's 2,400-kilometer-wide South Pole–Aitken basin.

Researchers think that the formation of this crater came about when a massive meteor crashed into the moon's surface, resulting in an extremely violent impact that shot debris up to 310 miles (500 kilometers) beyond the crater's rim.

to form the crater.'

This resulted in debris falling in long, straight lines called ejecta rays, creating deep channels of overlapping craters such as Vallis Schrödinger and Vallis Planck.

"Such rays are commonly observed on the Moon. For example, backyard astronomy enthusiasts will be familiar with the rays around Tycho and Copernicus craters on the Moon's near side," says Dr. Kring.

Researcher's created a three-dimensional map of these valleys by using photographs from NASA's probe.

In their paper, published in Nature Communications, the researchers estimate that the debris moved at speeds between 3,420 and 4,608 kilometers per hour turned into miles per hour, which equals 2,125 to 2,863 miles per hour.

In turn, this indicates that the fragments forming the canyon would be between two and five percent the size of the original meteor.

This means each fragment could have been up to 1,250 meters wide - more than 60 times larger than the Chelyabinsk meteor that exploded over Russia in 2013.

Dr Kring says: "The energy required to create the two grand canyons on the moon was equivalent to the power of 130 times the total global nuclear arsenal.

'The study reveals that lunar canyons as large as Earth's Grand Canyon can be created in minutes, rather than taking millions of years. These canyons on the Moon are carved by meteorite-impact generated streams of rock, which are more effective at cutting through terrain than water on our planet.'

By tracing the ricocheted fragments back to their likely origin, the researchers have also pinpointed the meteor's probable impact location.

This point is actually located somewhat far from the center of the Schrödinger crater, situated at 78.2° South and 143.7° East.

This detail suggests that the meteor likely struck the lunar surface at a relatively shallow angle, scattering debris away from the moon's southernmost region.

The presence of ice on the Martian surface is not just an intriguing geological discovery, it's also a very promising finding for NASA's upcoming missions.

Located approximately 77 miles (125 km) from the edge of the Schrödinger basin.

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However, this study indicates that this issue is likely to be relatively minor.

Dr. Kring states: 'Research indicates that the majority of debris ejected from the Schrödinger basin fell outside of the Artemis exploration zone.

Future astronauts on the Artemis mission will have an easier time gathering rocks older than the Schrödinger impact.

'Schroedinger Impact occurred near the end of a period of heavy bombardment in the early days of the Solar System. Geologic samples obtained by missions to the lunar south pole are expected to provide insights into the scale and duration of the bombardment of asteroids and comets.'

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There is growing interest in these naturally patterned dials that have a touch of cosmic elegance and exclusivity, and even Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz is a fan too.

2024 was a particularly difficult year for various watch manufacturers, yet Omega remained undeterred in its pursuit of incorporating meteorite dials into its designs, a pairing perfectly suited for a brand closely associated with space exploration. This affinity is evident from the fact that Omega was the first watch brand to be worn by astronauts on the moon, back in 1969.

"A meteorite dial is truly one-of-a-kind, greatly enhancing the timepiece's value," says Raynald Aeschlimann, president and CEO of Omega, which has been incorporating meteorite dials in its watches since 2016. This year, the brand is taking it to the next level by offering varied shades of meteorite dialing.

He notes that the colours make meteorites appear more stylish and fashionable. "The beautiful Widmanstätten cross pattern, a natural structure, is highlighted by the colours," he says, pointing out that the coloration also makes the overall appearance less technical in its appearance. "It's an intriguing effect, particularly when combined with the contrast of a polished Constellation case."

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The colors - applied either by galvanization or physical vapor deposition (PVD) - add a unique touch to the original mineral crisscross pattern found in iron-rich meteorites. Omega also coordinated the collection to coincide with the prominent color trend of autumn/winter 2024 - burgundy. The additional shades - grey, blue, green, gold, white, brown, and black - also match the season's color palette.

The meteorite dials are distinguished from one another not only by their colours, but also by the inherent characteristics of the material itself. According to Aeschlimann, working with meteorite poses a significant challenge, as it is difficult to achieve the ideal size and quality, and it must also align with the watch's overall design.

The dials from this release are crafted from the Muonionalusta meteorite, which crashed in northern Sweden about a million years ago. The iron-based meteorite itself is estimated to be around 4.5 billion years old, making it the oldest meteorite to have landed on Earth, and has been used by several brands in the past.

The use of meteorite in the watch industry has a brief history. Corum was among the first to introduce meteorite dials in a limited line of watches in the 1990s, and Rolex utilized Gibeon meteorite, which is iron-based, for a series of dials back in 2002. The Gibeon meteorite, a four-billion-year-old find from Namibia, discovered in 1838, is currently the most popular choice among watch manufacturers. Several brands have undergone the labor-intensive process of cutting thin slices of the material, with Omega incorporating it into its 2016 Grey Side of the Moon model.

To create a dial, a 0.1-millimeter slice is commonly employed. Once cut, it is finely polished to smooth its surface. Subsequent acid etching reveals a more defined pattern by highlighting contrasting materials and minerals.

In 2019, Rolex incorporated the interstellar material into the GMT-Master II, introducing a new level of sophistication to the Pepsi-colored design. The inclusion of this material was a clear success, as Rolex has continued to feature a silver-grey, raw look on its meteorite dials to this day, as seen on a Daytona model worn by 2023 and 2024 Wimbledon winner Carlos Alcaraz at his award ceremony.

In contrast, the green tone employed by independent brand Czapek on its 40.5mm stainless steel Antarctique Green Meteor features a touch of blue for added depth. Since the Gibeon meteorite dial has been coloured in 14 layers by lacquering and polishing, according to CEO Xavier de Roquemarel. "Using colour on the meteorite is a logical development of the material. The natural grey hue is used extensively. Now that we finally found the time to create a watch with a Gibeon meteorite dial, we wanted to demonstrate that we can go beyond it," de Roquemarel said of the model, 100 of which will be produced.

Could a meteorite actually increase its allure to collectors for Girard-Perregaux? In 2022, Patrick Pruniaux privatised the brand, which was founded as far back as 1791, through its acquisition from the Kering Group, granting it newfound independence. On the Free Bridge Meteorite released in February 2024, two bridges were showcased with Gibeon meteorite plates to create a sharp redesign.

There's another connection between fashion and meteorites seen in a new type of the Louis Vuitton Escale watch model introduced this summer, showing the luxury brand's ongoing trend towards high-end watchmaking. On the Escale watch, a dial made of meteorite is secured through rivets, evoking those used on the classic luggage made by the brand, adding to the watch's historical story.

It's worth noting that not every brand using meteorite is high-end: microbrand Selten, at the opposite end of the price spectrum, also uses slices of Gibeon but retails for under $1,000.

A lesser-known yet highly regarded brand among watch enthusiasts is Louis Moinet. This inventive Swiss label, named after the inventor of the chronograph, focuses on crafting exceptional timepieces based on two key principles: mechanical mastery and celestial artistry. The latter is influenced by meteorites and materials that have traveled through space. In October 2023, Louis Moinet achieved a Guinness World Record for the Cosmopolis, which boasts inserts from a stunning 12 distinct meteorites.

"I have been collecting meteorites for 20 years," notes CEO Jean-Marie Schaller. In the upcoming 2024 production, which comprises approximately 350 timepieces, he showcases two brand new meteorite watches. The first, the Louis Moinet Black Moon, boasts a movement incorporating a moon phase indicator situated on a revolving, dome-shaped central disk inlaid with two lunar meteorites. One of the meteorites originated in Libya, while the other was discovered in Oman.

The lunar meteorites are typically black, but the one discovered in Libya has a mixture of greyish hues.

A second unique model is the Louis Moinet Fuego Nuevo, which features a novel meteorite dial with laser engraving on a thin slab cut from the Muonionalusta meteorite, the same meteorite used for the Omega Constellation. "We initially attempted to use Gibeon, but the results were unsuccessful as it wouldn't allow fine details to be fully realized," says Schaller of the dial showcasing the Piedra del Sol, the Sun Stone, considered one of the most iconic works of Aztec art. "Ultimately, a timepiece must convey a beautiful narrative."

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This article originally appeared on the South China Morning Post (www.scmp.com), the leading news outlet covering China and Asia.

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