Asteroid the Size of a Building Flies Unnoticed Until Two Days After Its Near Miss with Earth
Surprisingly, an asteroid that posed a potential threat to our planet went unnoticed by researchers and astronomers as it passed by at an alarmingly close distance. Had circumstances been different, it could have collided with Earth. This event brings back memories of the 2013 incident in Chelyabinsk, Russia, where a massive asteroid caused damage to windows. Reportedly, asteroid 2023 NT1 was only detected two days after it had already made its closest approach to our planet on July 13. This newly discovered asteroid is estimated to be three times larger than the one that caused havoc in 2013.
Sky surveys and scientists discovered the existence of the space rock after it had already passed us, leaving it in our rear view mirror. The direction of the asteroid was difficult to judge because it was heading from Earth just like the Chelyabinsk bolide.
About asteroid 2023 NT1
The space rock was discovered by the Asteroid Terrestrials-Impacts Last Alert System (ATLAS) observatory in South Africa on July 15. According to a report by EarthSky. the asteroid was 200 feet wide and came within 60,000 miles of Earth. Even if a space rock didn’t threaten to hit our planet, a huge object that goes unnoticed could be a problem.
The asteroid’s starting point is considered the weak link in the planet’s defenses.
According to the ESA (European Space Agency), about one million near-Earth asteroids between 30 and 100 meters wide are predicted to exist, and the vast majority, 98.9 percent, have yet to be discovered.
An upcoming mission to detect an asteroid
NASA plans to launch a mission called NEO Surveyor by 2030 to find such huge unknown space objects.
ESA has also planned the NEOMIR mission. This mission focuses on providing early warnings of space objects approaching the Earth and headed from the Sun.
According to Forbes. 2023 NT1 is one of the largest asteroids seen in recent months, but new ones are being discovered every week.
Chelyabinsk meteor
Earlier in 2013, the Chelyabinsk meteor was another incident that went unnoticed and caused serious damage in Russia. The meteor also came from the direction of the Sun and was 65 feet in size. the asteroid unleashed a powerful shock wave that wreaked havoc and destroyed thousands of buildings. This event caused around 1,500 injuries as the broken glass from broken windows became dangerous projectiles. It is known as the largest asteroid impact with Earth in over a century.
