Asteroid 2023 XS belongs to the Apollo group of asteroids, as per NASA. (Pixabay)

NASA reveals details of Asteroid 2023 XS, which will pass Earth at a staggering speed of 32653 kmph

Nitin MisraDecember 19, 23 asteroids, NASA

NASA has disclosed that the gravitational pull of Jupiter and occasional encounters with planets such as Mars can alter the paths of asteroids. These chance encounters can dislodge asteroids from the main belt and propel them into various orbits intersecting those of other planets. Utilizing its sophisticated space and ground-based telescopes, NASA has recently unveiled that an asteroid is projected to come close to Earth today, December 19. Familiarize yourself with the specifics of this near encounter.

Asteroid 2023 XS: Details of the close approach

Most of the asteroids are mainly found in the main asteroid belt, which is located between Mars and Jupiter. However, on a few occasions the orbits of these asteroids bring them close to Earth, a phenomenon known as a “close approach”. The asteroid, named Asteroid 2023 XS, is heading toward Earth and could make a very close pass today, December 19, according to NASA’s Center for Near-Earth Object Research.

NASA revealed these details after tracking the asteroid’s orbit using its various satellites and space and ground-based telescopes including NEOWISE, Catalina Sky Survey, Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), Pans-STARRS1 and more. According to the details, Asteroid 2023 XS is expected to pass Earth at a distance of 4.3 million kilometers.

According to NASA, it belongs to the Apollo group of Near-Earth Asteroids, which are extraterrestrial 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. It is already climbing in orbit at a speed of about 32653 kilometers per hour, which is much faster than an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM)!

NASA has also revealed that asteroid 2023 XS has not passed Earth before and this is its first close approach. After today, this Apollo group asteroid is not expected to pass by the planet anytime in the near future.