EARTH'S CLOSE SHAVE

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 7, 10 January 1938, Page 9

EARTH'S CLOSE SHAVE

NEARLY A COLLISION

APPROACH OF A PLANET

CAPE TOWN, January 8,

How- the world narrowly missed a major terrestrial accident in October is disclosed by the astronomer of the Union of South Africa, Dr. H. W. Wood, who explained that the Heidelberg astronomer, Dr. Reinmuth, photographed a strange body in the skies. He cabled to South Africa, .which also photographed what was apparently a baby planet, probably a few miles in diameter, its orbit on October 25 leading straight to the earth. For five days apparent disaster grew nearer, but nobody cared, as nobody knew. The planet on October 30 passed the earth at the small astronomical distance of 400,000 miles, which is the nearest the earth has ever been to a collision in the period of astronomical observations.

Astronomers regard the occurrence as a close shave, adding that if the planet had struck the earth it might have somewhat altered the international situation. The Union's astronomers are still conferring with their European and American confreres regarding the planet, which they have christened "Reinmuth 1937," in honour of the Heidelberg doctor.

Dr. Wood recalled that he and thirty other astronomers excitedly watched through giant telescopes the approach of the baby planet, which missed the earth by oihours.