NASA Warns of 130-Foot Asteroid Making Close Approach to Earth Today
Asteroids frequently come close to Earth, presenting a potential danger due to their alarming proximity. While they may appear as mere celestial rocks, it is important to note that asteroids possess varying compositions. These space objects can be categorized into three types based on their structural makeup. The most frequently encountered asteroids are S-type, consisting of carbon-rich materials. Conversely, S-type asteroids, composed mainly of silicate minerals, are less abundant. The least common are M-type asteroids, primarily composed of metal.
In a separate development, NASA has released details of an asteroid expected to make its closest approach to Earth today.
Asteroid 2023 QC8: Details of the close approach
Using its advanced ground and space telescopes, NASA has been monitoring the asteroid, whose orbit brings it very close to Earth today. According to the Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS), the asteroid, named Asteroid 2023 QC8, is heading towards Earth and could make its closest approach to the planet today, October 5.
This Earth-like space rock is expected to make its closest approach to the planet at a distance of 6 million kilometers and at a speed of 22741 kilometers per hour, which is much faster than Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBM)!
According to NASA, this space rock belongs to the Amor group of Near-Earth Asteroids, which are near-Earth asteroids with orbits outside the Earth but inside Mars, named after the asteroid 1221 Amor discovered by the Belgian astronomer E. Delporte in 1932.
How big is the asteroid?
In terms of size, Asteroid 2023 QC8 is nearly 130 feet across, making it almost the size of an airplane! Despite being more than twice the size of the Chelyabinsk asteroid that wreaked havoc on Earth in 2013, this space rock is not large enough to be classified as a potentially hazardous object.
Asteroid impact this year
Did you know that an asteroid hit Earth this year? While it wasn’t a planet killer that wiped out entire species like another space rock about 65 million years ago, this one hit the surface. According to NASA, the meteorite turned into an atmospheric fireball on February 15th and crashed near McAllen, Texas. Law enforcement in the McAllen area received several calls from residents who reported hearing a loud explosion. It was a 1,000-pound rock 2 feet in diameter when it broke into pieces about 21 miles above the ground.
