Asteroid buzzes Earth harmlessly

 　　BEIJING, June 28 (Xinhuanet) -- A truck-sized asteroid¹ passed over the Atlantic Ocean within 7,500 miles of the Earth on Monday, according to NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

　　The space rock, called asteroid 2011 MD, is the second space rock to zip extremely close to the Earth this year.

　　The asteroid, with latest size estimates ranging from 16 to 66 feet (5 to 20 meters) wide, was discovered just last week on June 22, but there was never any risk of it impacting the Earth, NASA scientists said.

　　That means asteroid 2011 MD would likely be too small to survive the fiery² plunge³ through the Earth's atmosphere, let alone reach the surface, NASA scientists said. Asteroids⁴ this size can be expected to buzz Earth with close shaves about once every six years, they added.

　　The space rock flew well below geosynchronous satellites, which orbit 22,236 miles (35,786 km) above the Earth, but well above the 220-mile (354-km) altitude of the International Space Station.

　　There was little chance that the asteroid would hit a satellite because of the vastness of space and relatively⁵ small number of satellites, experts said.(本文由在线英语听力室整理编辑)

1 asteroid   

n.小行星；海盘车(动物)

参考例句：

• Astronomers have yet to witness an asteroid impact with another planet.天文学家还没有目击过小行星撞击其它行星。
• It's very unlikely that an asteroid will crash into Earth but the danger exists.小行星撞地球的可能性很小，但这样的危险还是存在的。

2 fiery   

adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的

参考例句：

• She has fiery red hair.她有一头火红的头发。
• His fiery speech agitated the crowd.他热情洋溢的讲话激动了群众。

3 plunge   

v.跳入，(使)投入，(使)陷入；猛冲

参考例句：

• Test pool's water temperature before you plunge in.在你跳入之前你应该测试水温。
• That would plunge them in the broil of the two countries.那将会使他们陷入这两国的争斗之中。

4 asteroids   

n.小行星( asteroid的名词复数 )；海盘车，海星

参考例句：

• Asteroids,also known as "minor planets",are numerous in the outer space. 小行星，亦称为“小型行星”，在外太空中不计其数。
• Most stars probably have their quota of planets, meteorids, comets, and asteroids. 多数恒星也许还拥有若干行星、流星、彗星和小行星。

5 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。