NASA has announced five asteroids would pass close to Earth between 27th August to 1st September.
[Source: Forbes]
The Jet Propulsion Laboratory of NASA actively always tracks foreign objects that approach Earth or near Earth. They have issued a major alert regarding 5 asteroids coming towards Earth this week.
Asteroids are rocky, ice and the left over debris from the formation of Earth which happened almost 4.6 billion years ago. NEAs (Near Earth asteroids) are usually seen in the asteroid belt between Jupiter and Mars which helps them in the protection from sun’s radiation.
The asteroids might have retained their origin as it was during the earlier phases of the formation of the solar system and planets, scientists believe so.
With solid proof, a new study states that Chicxulub impactor is being held for triggering the mass extinction almost 66 million years ago. But it was actually an asteroid.
The asteroids that keep passing towards Earth aren’t that powerful to harm Earth but at the same time, proper hypervigilance has to be taken and maintained to taken precautions, given our experience with them.
Here’s some brief outlook of these 5 asteroids:
Asteroid 2020 RL:
It is a near-Earth 110-foot asteroid which is expected to approach Earth on 27th August. It assures no risk to Earth as well. The distance at the time of the approach is 46.8 lakh kilometers.
Asteroid 2021 RA10:
This asteroid will fly by Earth which will be the closest approach at the range of 26.1 kilometers on 28th August. The estimated size of this asteroid is approximately 92 feet; the same size of a plane. Such asteroids could be a potential threat for Earth.
Asteroid 2012 SX49:
This asteroid will make its close approach towards Earth on 19th August with a diameter of 64 feet. It will be at a distance of 42.9 lakh. It is almost the same size of a small house but poses no threat.
Asteroid 2016 RJ20:
It is also an airplane-sized asteroid of 64 feet in size. It will be at a distance of 6,990,000 kilometers which will approach Earth on August 30th.
Asteroid 2021 JT:
This is the smallest asteroid approaching Earth among the other asteroids. It is only 38 feet in size and will be near Earth on 1st September, at a safe distance of almost 63.6 lakh kilometers.
The Jet Propulsion Laboratory plays an important role in tracking and understanding these asteroids using the Center for Near Earth Object Studies (CNEOS). They use the data from telescopes to calculate the orbits of NEAs and analyze the possibility of risk towards Earth.
