Asteroid the Size of an Airplane to Make Close Flyby of Earth Today – Get the Details
Throughout history, there have been numerous accounts of asteroids colliding with Earth, resulting in the formation of large craters in different parts of our planet. Continuously, scientists are uncovering fresh insights into Earth’s past, having identified a total of 190 impacts thus far. These findings suggest that our planet had a tumultuous history, being particularly vulnerable to celestial objects. Nevertheless, presently, the chances of an asteroid collision with Earth in the near future are highly improbable.
However, asteroids keep zooming frighteningly close, and now NASA has discovered an asteroid that’s headed right for Earth and is set to come very close to Earth Today.
Asteroid 2023 QH
NASA’s Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) identifies cosmic objects approaching Earth. Recently, it discovered a huge space rock called asteroid 2023 QH, which will make its closest approach to our planet today, August 31, 2023. The asteroid will come 4,600,000 kilometers close to Earth’s surface.
Using telescopes in space and on the ground, NASA revealed that this object is hurtling toward Earth at an astonishing speed of 57,240 kilometers per hour.
Other details
NASA reports that the asteroid is not dangerous. The size of this asteroid is 200 feet. These space objects are considered dangerous when they are 492 feet wide and pass the Earth at a distance of less than 7.5 million kilometers.
The asteroid belongs to the Apollo group of near-Earth objects. An asteroid is compared to an airplane because it is massive and can cause a serious impact if it passes through the Earth’s atmosphere.
NASA’s asteroid tracking technology
NASA observes asteroids using space telescopes. The Asteroid Terrestrial Impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) continuously scans and locates asteroids of all sizes. Additionally, certain space-based observatories use infrared sensors to detect asteroids and learn about their properties. NASA also uses other missions, such as the NEOWISE mission, to track asteroids.
