巨大的小行星“可能會對地球上的生命構(gòu)成威脅”

巨大的小行星“可能會對地球上的生命構(gòu)成威脅”

A massive mile-long double asteroid linked to a one-inch meteor that streaked a fireball over Japan three years ago could threaten humanity in millions of years if it eventually breaks up, scientists wrote in a report published Monday.

科學(xué)家們在周一發(fā)表的一份報告中寫道，一顆巨大的、長達(dá)1英里的雙小行星與一顆1英寸的流星有關(guān)，這顆流星三年前在日本上空劃過一個火球，如果它最終解體，可能會在數(shù)百萬年后威脅人類。

“The potential breakup of the rock could be dangerous to life on Earth,” Toshihiro Kasuga, a visiting scientist at the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan and Kyoto Sangyo University, said in a release Wednesday, according to CNET. “Those resulting asteroids could hit the Earth in the next 10 million years or so.”

據(jù)CNET報道，日本國家天文臺和京都產(chǎn)業(yè)大學(xué)的訪問科學(xué)家Toshihiro Kasuga在周三發(fā)布的一份新聞稿中說:“這塊巖石的潛在破裂可能會威脅到地球上的生命。”“這些產(chǎn)生的小行星可能在未來1000萬年左右撞擊地球。”

The findings were first reported in The Astronomical Journal Monday.

這一發(fā)現(xiàn)首次發(fā)表在周一的《天文學(xué)雜志》上。

The fireball that passed over Kyoto, Japan, late at night on April 28, 2017, was a one-inch meteor that broke off the asteroid measuring more than a mile wide, scientists later determined, according to Live Science.

據(jù)《生活科學(xué)》雜志報道，科學(xué)家們后來確定，2017年4月28日深夜，在日本京都上空飛過的火球是一顆直徑1英寸的流星，從直徑超過1英里的小行星上墜落。

“We uncovered the fireball’s true identity,” Kasuga said, according to CNET. “The 2017 fireball and its parent asteroid gave us a behind-the-scenes look at meteors.”

據(jù)CNET報道，Kasuga說:“我們發(fā)現(xiàn)了火球的真實身份。”“2017年的火球和它的母體小行星讓我們看到了流星的幕后景象。”

The asteroid, known as 2003 YT1, is made up of two parts: the larger rock measures 1.2 miles and is orbited by a 690-foot piece.

這顆被稱為2003年YT1的小行星由兩部分組成:較大的那塊巖石長1.2英里，由一塊690英尺的巖石環(huán)繞運行。

“The parent body 2003 YT1 could break up and those resulting asteroids could hit the Earth in the next 10 million years or so, especially because 2003 YT1 has a dust production mechanism,” he added, the Daily Express reported.

據(jù)《每日快報》報道，他補充說:“2003年YT1的母體可能會解體，而由此產(chǎn)生的小行星可能會在未來1000萬年左右撞擊地球，特別是因為2003年YT1有一個產(chǎn)生塵埃的機制。”

The asteroid was first discovered in 2003, hence its name.

這顆小行星于2003年首次被發(fā)現(xiàn)，因此得名。

It has a history of cracking and releasing dust particles into space, The Express reported.

據(jù)《每日快報》報道，它有爆裂和向太空釋放灰塵顆粒的歷史。