NASA reveals size and other details of asteroid set to pass Earth at a staggering speed of 51636 kmph
According to NASA, asteroids are remnants from the early stages of our solar system’s formation approximately 4.6 billion years ago. Although the majority of these space rocks are typically found in the main asteroid belt situated between Mars and Jupiter, there are instances where they can approach Earth, potentially endangering our planet. But what causes this to occur? NASA explains that the gravitational pull of Jupiter, as well as occasional near encounters with planets like Mars or other celestial bodies, can alter the trajectory of asteroids. These chance encounters have the ability to dislodge asteroids from the main belt, propelling them in various directions across the orbits of other planets.
Using its advanced space and ground-based telescopes, NASA has now revealed that an asteroid is expected to make a close pass by Earth today, January 16th. Know the details of this close encounter.
Asteroid 2021 CZ2: Details of the close approach
A few times the orbits of these asteroids bring them close to Earth, known as a “close approach”. According to NASA’s Center for Near-Earth Object Research, the asteroid, named Asteroid 2021 CZ2, is heading toward Earth and could make a very close pass today, January 16.
According to details, asteroid 2021 CZ2 is expected to pass the Earth at a distance of 3 million kilometers. It is already climbing in orbit at a speed of about 51,636 kilometers per hour, which is much faster than an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM)! In terms of size, this asteroid is nearly 350 feet wide, which is almost as big as a building!
NASA has revealed that asteroid 2021 CZ2 belongs to the group of Aten asteroids, which are Earth-crossing Near-Earth Asteroids (NEAs) with semimajor axes smaller than Earth’s. They are named after the asteroid 2062 Ate, and the first of their kind was discovered by American astronomer Eleanor Helin at the Palomar Observatory on January 7, 1976.
Shockingly, this will not be Asteroid 2021 CZ2’s first close approach to Earth. It passed Earth for the first time on January 29, 1910, when it flew past the planet at a distance of 65 million kilometers. After today, this space rock will pass the planet again this year on July 13th at a distance of 72 million kilometers.
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