This space visitor, with a diameter equivalent to that of a small shopping mall (40-90 meters), has been preliminarily calculated to have about a 2 percent chance of colliding with Earth in 2032.
一颗代号2024 YR4的小行星正在以每秒十几公里的速度掠过太阳系。
去年12月，当智利ATLAS望远镜首次捕捉到它的身影时，全球天文学家的目光瞬间聚焦——这颗直径相当于一座小型商场的“太空访客”（直径40-90米），被初步计算有约2%的概率在2032年撞向地球！ 
2024 YR4资料图 （图源：央视新闻）
1. diameter /daɪˈæmɪtər/ n.直径；对径；放大率；放大倍数
例句： This hole was a scant. 23 inches in diameter.
这个洞眼的直径只有0.23英寸。——《柯林斯英汉双解词典》
2. calculate /ˈkælkjuleɪt/ vt.计算；预测；
例句：From this you can calculate the total mass in the Galaxy.
由此你可以算出银河系的总质量。——《柯林斯词典》
When it is relatively close to Earth in its orbit, large-aperture astronomical telescopes will be able to observe it. Therefore, the period from the end of last year to the beginning of this year was a good observation window, and we will have another opportunity to monitor it in 2028.
当它在轨道上距离地球比较近时，大口径的天文望远镜就能实现对它的观测，所以，去年底到今年初是一个较好的观测窗口，2028年我们还能再蹲守一次。
3.telescope /ˈtelɪskoʊp/n.望远镜(专升本词汇)
例句：It's hoped that the telescope will enable scientists to see deeper into the universe than ever before.
人们希望望远镜能使科学家看到比以往更遥远的宇宙深处。——《柯林斯词典》
4.monitor /ˈmɑːnɪtər/ n.显示屏；监视器(专升本词汇)
例句: The heart monitor shows low levels of consciousness.
心脏监测器显示患者神志不清。——《柯林斯词典》
Since 2013, the international organizations International Asteroid Warning Network (IAWN) and the Space Mission Planning Advisory Group (SMPAG) have been responsible for monitoring and providing warnings about asteroids that may pose an impact risk.
从2013年开始，国际组织国际小行星预警网（IAWN）和空间任务规划咨询组（SMPAG）负责对可能具有撞击风险的小行星进行监测和预警。
5.responsible /rɪˈspɑːnsəbl/adj.负责的；有责任(专升本词汇)
例句：Mike is responsible for designing the entire project.
迈克负责设计全部工程。——《牛津词典》
6. pose/poʊz/ v.造成，引起(专升本词汇)
例句：This could pose a threat to jobs in the coal industry...
这可能会给煤炭产业的就业造成威胁。——《牛津词典》
An asteroid with a diameter of several tens of meters, if it impacts Earth without any human defense, can cause damage over an area of thousands of square kilometers, equivalent to the size of a large city.
直径几十米的小行星，如果在完全没有人为防御的情况下撞击地球，会造成几千平方公里的破坏，相当于一个大型城市的面积。
7.defense /dɪ'fens/ n.防守；防卫；
例句：The Redskins' offense is stronger than their defense.
印第安人队的进攻强于防守。——《牛津高阶英汉双解词典》
An asteroid with a diameter of around 10 kilometers can lead to large-scale extinction of species.
而如果小行星直径在10公里左右，则可以造成大规模的物种灭绝。
8.extinction /ɪkˈstɪŋkʃn/ n.灭绝；
例句：An operation is beginning to try to save a species of crocodile from extinction...
一项努力拯救一个鳄鱼物种、使其免于灭绝的行动已经开始。——《柯林斯词典》
The Near-Earth Object Telescope at the Purple Mountain Observatory and the Wide Field Survey Telescope, a collaboration between the University of Science and Technology of China and the Purple Mountain Observatory, have shown remarkable results in recent years. Chinese scientists have discovered more than 60 near-Earth asteroids, effectively providing Earth with a "space security scanner".
紫金山天文台的近地天体望远镜、中国科学技术大学-紫金山天文台的墨子巡天望远镜近年来成效显著，中国科学家已发现60余颗近地小行星，相当于为地球安装了“太空安检仪”。
9.field /fiːld/n.领域(专升本词汇)
例句：Exciting artistic breakthroughs have recently occurred in the fields of painting, sculpture and architecture...
绘画、雕塑和建筑领域最近出现了激动人心的艺术突破。——《柯林斯词典》
10.security /sɪˈkjʊrəti/ n.安全
例句：They are now under a great deal of pressure to tighten their airport security...
他们现在承受着加强机场安保措施的巨大压力。——《柯林斯词典》
11.scanner /ˈskænər/ n.扫描仪
例句：The scanner will save risk and pain for patients
扫描仪将使病人免遭风险和痛苦。——《柯林斯高阶英汉双解学习词典》
文章转自中国日报双语新闻
https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/0vUS94OFhTupCez4su5Uiw
