NASA Unveils Details of 600-Foot Asteroid’s Close Flyby of Earth

NASA has issued a recent alert regarding a massive asteroid that is set to approach Earth tomorrow. Hazards such as solar storms and asteroids are constantly emerging and posing threats to our planet. To ensure our safety, NASA diligently monitors Near-Earth Asteroids (NEAs) and reports precise observations of their positions to the Minor Planet Center. The Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) then utilizes this data to determine the most likely orbit of the asteroid around the Sun. To assess the risk of impact and the asteroid’s orbit, NASA utilizes the innovative Sentry II system, which employs a unique algorithm. This system strategically selects random points within the uncertainty region, allowing it to identify highly unlikely impact scenarios.

Asteroid 1998 HH49

According to data provided by NASA CNEOS, a 600-foot-tall asteroid will approach Earth and fly by tomorrow. This asteroid is said to be the size of a building. It is expected to visit our planet on October 17. NASA has named this asteroid 1998 HH49. This asteroid’s closest approach to Earth is estimated to be 1.17 million kilometers. It was first observed on April 28, 1998, and last observed on December 1, 2021. It is accelerating at a relative speed of 53,233 kilometers per hour. This asteroid belongs to the group of Apollo asteroids.

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An Apollo-class asteroid

Apollo asteroids, named after Karl Reinmuth’s 1932 discovery of Apollo, are near-Earth asteroids. The semi-major axis of their orbit crosses Earth, creating potential threats due to their close proximity. On February 15, 2013, the Chelyabinsk meteor exploded over the Russian city of Chelyabinsk, injuring about 1,500 from broken windows from the explosion. This meteor belonged to the class of Apollo asteroids.

Is it dangerous?

Given the size of asteroid 1998 HH49, which is 600 feet, it appears to be potentially dangerous. According to NASA, if asteroids are larger than 150 meters in size, they are considered a potential threat. The asteroid was first observed in 1991.

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