NASA Warns of 48-Foot Asteroid Approaching Earth Today
NASA is actively monitoring and studying asteroids that come close to Earth using a combination of space telescopes and ground-based observatories. The renowned Hubble Space Telescope is among the tools used for this important task. Currently, there are 1,298,210 known asteroids that have been examined. While there are no immediate threats from asteroids, they still have the potential to cause significant damage in the future. Therefore, tracking them is crucial to prevent any potential disasters. Recently, NASA has identified an asteroid, named 2023 TC7, that is expected to pass by Earth. To learn more about this asteroid’s close approach, continue reading.
Asteroid 2023 TC7:
According to NASA, asteroid 2023 TC7 is about 48 feet across, about the size of a typical house. This asteroid is poised for a close encounter with Earth on October 15, 2023. Its closest approach is estimated to be 666,000 kilometers away, which is very close. Speeding through space at an astonishing 24,510 kilometers per hour, this celestial body belongs to the Aten family of asteroids. The Aten asteroids are a group with dynamic orbits that often bring them close to Earth. Worryingly, this particular asteroid was first spotted on October 11, 2023, and its last known sighting was on October 14. However, due to its small size, this asteroid poses no danger to our planet.
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Aten family of asteroids:
The Aten asteroids form a distinctive group characterized by their orbits that intersect the Earth’s path. These celestial neighbors are collectively known as the Earth-crossing asteroids and take their name from 2062 Aten, the first of its kind discovered on January 7, 1976 by American astronomer Eleanor Helin at the Palomar Observatory.
Is it dangerous?
Due to its small size, asteroid 2023 TC7 is not necessarily a dangerous object for our planet. According to data provided by NASA, only asteroids larger than 492 feet are considered potentially hazardous.
The diligent efforts of NASA and other space agencies around the world to track and study asteroids are crucial to protecting our planet from potential threats.
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