NASA Reveals Asteroid of Size Comparable to Statue of Unity to Pass Earth Today

Throughout history, there have been numerous instances where asteroids have come dangerously close to Earth. However, it is important to note that not all asteroids share the same composition. According to NASA, asteroids can be classified into three main categories: C-type, S-type, and M-type. The most common type, C-type asteroids, consist mainly of carbon-rich substances. On the other hand, S-type asteroids are less frequent and primarily composed of silicate minerals. Lastly, M-type asteroids, which are the least common, are primarily made up of metal. Recently, scientists have become intrigued by a rare asteroid that reportedly contains deposits of gold, silver, and nickel.

In a new development, NASA, using advanced space and ground-based telescopes, has revealed that an asteroid is due to pass Earth today. Know all about its close approach.

Asteroid 2004 UU1: Speed, Size, Distance and More

Asteroid 2004 UU1 is heading towards Earth and may fly past the planet today, October 30th. According to the details, asteroid 2004 UU1 is expected to pass the Earth at a distance of about 4 million kilometers. It is already orbiting Earth at 62,739 kilometers per hour, which is almost as fast as the space shuttle!

This space rock belongs to the Apollo group of Near-Earth Asteroids, which are space rocks that pass through the Earth and whose semi-major axes are larger than the Earth’s axis. These asteroids are named after the huge 1862 Apollo asteroid discovered by German astronomer Karl Reinmuth in the 1930s.

According to NASA, this asteroid was discovered on October 23, 2004 by the Lincoln Near-Earth Asteroid Research (LINEAR) project. Despite the discovery in the 21st century, the asteroid made its first close approach to Earth on May 9, 1909, at a distance of about 34 million kilometers. After today, it will come close to the planet on November 17, 2027, when it will pass at a distance of about 66 million kilometers.

How big is it?

Asteroid 2004 UU1 is nearly 620 feet wide and even bigger than the Statue of Unity, the tallest statue in the world! Because of this large size, it has been declared a potentially dangerous object. For the uninitiated, only celestial bodies larger than 492 feet and passing Earth closer than 7.5 million kilometers are classified as such.

Thanks to such close calls, NASA, ESA and other space agencies have developed technology to track asteroids in their orbits and even reverse them if a potential impact scenario develops.