2023-06-27 22:59:38
NASA reported that this Wednesday, June 28, a gigantic asteroid is rapidly approaching Earth that will pass in the vicinity of our planet. However, experts are confident that it will not reach a potentially dangerous position, although it might enter Earth orbit.
NASA reported that this space object is called 2013 WV44 and has a diameter of approximately 160 meters. Its displacement speed is 11.8 kilometers per second, equivalent to regarding 34 times the speed of sound.
It was indicated that although 2013 WV44 is heading towards Earth, it is estimated that it will never come closer than 0.02334 astronomical units (AU), which is equivalent to regarding 3.4 million kilometers. “Although it seems like a far distance, it is relatively close in astronomical terms,” he explained.
NASA explained that, given its size and proximity, this rocky colossus meets the definition of “potentially dangerous”, since to do so it must be approached at a distance of less than 0.05 astronomical units (7.4 million kilometers) and have a diameter greater than 140 meters.
However, NASA does not consider this asteroid to be a threat, since it will be almost nine times the distance between the Earth and the Moon. Therefore, despite its size, it should not present a significant problem.
NASA reported that this Wednesday, June 28, a gigantic asteroid is rapidly approaching Earth that will pass in the vicinity of our planet. However, experts are confident that it will not reach a potentially dangerous position, although it might enter Earth orbit.
NASA reported that this space object is called 2013 WV44 and has a diameter of approximately 160 meters. Its displacement speed is 11.8 kilometers per second, equivalent to regarding 34 times the speed of sound.
It was indicated that although 2013 WV44 is heading towards Earth, it is estimated that it will never come closer than 0.02334 astronomical units (AU), which is equivalent to regarding 3.4 million kilometers. “Although it seems like a far distance, it is relatively close in astronomical terms,” he explained.
This photo provided by the Japan Space Exploration Agency (JAXA) shows an image of the Ryugu asteroid. | Photo: EFE / El País
NASA explained that, given its size and proximity, this rocky colossus meets the definition of “potentially dangerous”, since to do so it must be approached at a distance of less than 0.05 astronomical units (7.4 million kilometers) and have a diameter greater than 140 meters.
However, NASA does not consider this asteroid to be a threat, since it will be almost nine times the distance between the Earth and the Moon. Therefore, despite its size, it should not present a significant problem.
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The asteroid is expected to enter orbit as the Earth’s “hill sphere”, the region where its gravity exerts the greatest pull on satellites, has a radius of 14.9 million kilometers.
When is an asteroid considered “potentially dangerous”?
An asteroid is considered potentially dangerous when its diameter exceeds 140 meters and it is less than 0.05 astronomical units from Earth.
According to NASA, asteroid 2013 WV44 is classified as a near-Earth object (NEO) and is being monitored to follow its movement. A NEO is defined as one that is less than 1.3 astronomical units from the sun (194.4 million km) and less than 0.3 AU (44.8 million km) from Earth’s orbit.
“NEOs are comets and asteroids that have been pulled by the gravitational pull of nearby planets into orbits that allow them to enter Earth’s neighborhood,” NASA explained.
According to NASA, there are currently 32,254 near-Earth asteroids (NEAs), a number that has increased since last October. Although most are NEO, near-Earth comets (NECs) are also found.
It is estimated that of this total, more than 10,000 are larger than 140 meters in diameter, and close to 1,000 exceed one kilometer, underscoring the importance of constant monitoring of these nearby space objects. The largest NEA, known as Ganymede, has a diameter of approximately 35 km.
“Fortunately, this giant body is known to always remain at a safe distance from Earth,” said Richard Moissl, head of planetary defense at the European Space Agency.
On average, our planet is hit by an object the size of a football field every 5,000 years, and an asteroid that might cause the extinction of a civilization every one million years, according to the Near-Earth Object Program of the Pot.
The agency has been monitoring the trajectories of all NEAs for decades and, for the moment, they ensure that the Earth does not face a significant danger in the next 100 years at least.
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