NASA Reveals Asteroid the Size of an Aircraft to Make Close Approach to Earth – Get the Details

Throughout history, there have been numerous instances where asteroids narrowly missed colliding with Earth. One such event resulted in the extinction of the dinosaurs approximately 65 million years ago. In a recent development, NASA has utilized its state-of-the-art ground and space-based telescopes to announce that an asteroid, named Asteroid 2023 WW, is projected to pass by Earth on December 5. NASA’s Center for Near-Earth Object Studies has provided detailed information regarding the asteroid’s velocity, dimensions, proximity to Earth, and other relevant details. Stay informed about the asteroid’s imminent close encounter with our planet.

Asteroid 2023 WW: Speed, Size, Distance and More

According to details, asteroid 2023 WW is expected to pass Earth at a distance of about 2.9 million kilometers. It is already orbiting the earth at a speed of 30,672 kilometers per hour, which is even faster than Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBM)!

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

According to NASA, asteroid 2023 WW has not passed by Earth before and this will be its first close approach. After today, it is not predicted to pass by the planet in the near future.

How big is it?

Asteroid 2023 WW is nearly the size of an airplane and is nearly 130 feet across. Despite this large size, it is not classified as a potentially dangerous object and is not considered dangerous. However, that could change if the asteroid falls off course due to interaction with the planet’s gravitational field.

Thanks to such close calls, NASA, ESA and other space agencies have developed technology to track asteroids in their orbits and even deflect them as a possible collision scenario develops.