Space objects that are 140 meters and larger in size are described by Nasa as posing a risk to Earth because of the level of devastation impact with them would cause. Fortunately, however, no known asteroid which is larger than that has a significant chance of hitting Earth for the next 100 years.
Asteroid trackers of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) have confirmed that a colossal space rock is on course to zoom past Earth on 22 October.
Named 2020 TG1 by astronomers, the celestial being flying through space at speeds of more than 30,700mph is expected to make a so-called “close approach”.
According to the data compiled by NASA’s Center for Near Earth Object Studies (CNEOS), Asteroid TG1 is on course to whiz past our planet just before midnight tomorrow.
CNEOS categorises such encounters as “close” approaches when the asteroid’s orbit of the Sun brings it within 0.04701 astronomical units (au) or 4.3 million miles of Earth.
This computer graphics image provided by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) shows an asteroid and asteroid explorer Hayabusa2.
On a cosmic scale, this is deemed close by astronomers, with such objects classed as NEOs.
Asteroid Ida and its Moon
A key element of NASA’s Planetary Defense effort has been the Near-Earth Object (NEO) Observations Program.
Given the task of observing, characterising and tracking NEOs, it makes use of telescopes around the world to keep a close eye on anything coming at us from space that might prove to be a potential hazard.
Sourse: sputniknews.com
