The asteroid in the sky seemed closer than I expected.
An asteroid about the size of a double-decker bus, or “six adult Indian peacocks.” according to JERUSALEM POST – Passed by Earth late Wednesday night. 11:37pm ET time.
The giant rock, called 2024 DW, is expected to approach Earth at a distance of 140,000 miles, which will put it closer than the moon when buckled up.
The asteroid was estimated to be about 42 feet in diameter and traveling at a speed of more than 40,000 miles per hour.
Although this asteroid was closer to Earth than the Moon, it would not have any impact on Earth.
Dr Min-jae Kim, a space expert at the University of Warwick’s astronomy department, said the asteroid posed no “real danger” like most asteroids that come close to the third planet from the sun.
“Although Earth’s large oceans make a direct hit on land less likely, the potential impact of an asteroid remains a serious concern,” he added.
An asteroid is considered “potentially hazardous” if it has a minimum orbital crossing distance (MOID) of Earth of 0.05 astronomical units or less and is bright with an absolute magnitude (H) of 22.0 or greater. NASA explained.
“Of course, if a significant asteroid threat is imminent, NASA’s Planetary Defense will keep the public well-informed,” Kim said.
according to futurismIt would take an asteroid 60 miles (96 kilometers) wide to wipe out life on Earth.
2024 DW was discovered by astronomers working on the Mount Lemon Survey, a project based in Tucson, Arizona.
Because of its close proximity to Earth, the asteroid is classified as a near-Earth object (NEO) and is tracked by NASA.
NEOs are classified as comets or asteroids that are pushed into orbits that allow them to enter Earth’s neighborhood by the gravity of a nearby planet. According to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
The space agency has cited 2024 DW as one of its closest goals. Earth by (NEOs).
NASA made that determination through an online tracker that records objects in close proximity to Earth.
