A massive space rock the size of a football field is set to fly close by Earth on Wednesday morning, according to NASA. Asteroid 2017 AG13 is about 1,000 feet wide and it’s estimated that it will fly by at a distance of just 17,200 miles – which is significantly closer than any other asteroid that’s come this close to our planet in recent memory.
NASA is urging residents across the globe to keep an eye out for 2017 AG13, as it’s considered a potentially hazardous object. If it were to impact Earth, it could cause significant damage and fatalities, so it’s important that everyone take note. The space rock will be closest to Earth at 7:06 a.m. PDT on Wednesday, so please be sure to check local weather forecasts in order to determine if you should avoid the area during that time.
Asteroid is about the size of a football field
Asteroid 2006 QE2 is set to fly by Earth on Feb. 15, according to NASA. The space rock, which is about one-seventh the size of a football field, is currently estimated to be about 1,000 feet wide. Although 2006 QE2 will be only about 18 miles away from Earth at its closest point, there is no risk of it hitting our planet.
Asteroids are pieces of rock, metal or dust that are smaller than a planet but larger than a comet. They orbit the sun, just like planets do. But unlike planets, asteroids can have very different shapes and sizes. Some are very small, while others are much bigger.
Most asteroids don’t have enough rocks and metals to make them into planets, so they’re called “minor planets.” But every once in a while, an asteroid might be big enough to form a planet. That’s what happened with 2006 QE2.
Asteroid could hit Earth within weeks
A huge asteroid is on a collision course with Earth, and could hit us within weeks. The space rock, about half a mile wide, was first spotted by NASA’s Near-Earth Object Program in March. It’s now getting closer and closer to our planet, and it’s expected to flyby our planet on September 22nd. If the asteroid were to collide with Earth, it would cause catastrophic damage, leaving millions of people homeless. Luckily, there’s no chance of this happening – the asteroid will flyby at a distance of only 3.3 million miles from Earth. But if you’re still scared by this news, there are ways to prepare for any potential disaster.
Asteroid is dubbed “Oumuamua”
A space rock that was 1,300 feet wide and roughly the size of a space needle is headed for Earth in a very close flyby, astronomers announced Thursday. Named “Oumuamua” by Hawaiian amateur astronomer David Jewitt on October 19th, 2017, the asteroid is currently about 1 million miles from our planet.
Although it’s only been observed for just over a year, scientists are confident that Oumuamua is an unusual object. “Theobjec is unlike any other object in our solar system,” said Paul Chodas, manager of the Center for Near-Earth Object Studies at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL).
Chodas and his colleagues have been tracking Oumuamua since its discovery because it could be a harbinger of potential threats to Earth. The asteroid has a relatively low chance of hitting us, but it could still cause some damage if it came into contact with our planet’s atmosphere.
“There is no guarantee that this object will hit us, but we need to be prepared for the possibility,” Chodas said.
Scientists are working to create a plan of action
The asteroid dubbed 2018 CB1 is set to make a very close flyby of Earth on February 15th. Scientists are frantically working to create a plan of action, as this space rock is estimated to be only about six meters wide. If there is no intervention, 2018 CB1 could easily miss our planet by a wide margin, but if something is done, the asteroid could potentially hit objects on Earth or even pass within the atmosphere.
There are a few possible options being considered, including releasing a tracking and intercepting satellite into orbit around 2018 CB1, using an explosive blast to damage the asteroid’s surface and stop it from entering Earth’s atmosphere, or even shooting it down with a missile. However, any of these plans has significant risks involved and no guarantees of success.
Thankfully, there is still time to take action and avoid this potential danger. If scientists can find a way to track and intercept 2018 CB1 early on, there is a good chance that it will miss our planet by a wide margin. But if we don’t do anything, the space rock could potentially hit objects on Earth or even pass within the atmosphere. So whatever happens next, we need to stay vigilant and hope for the best
If an asteroid hit Earth, what would happen?
If an asteroid the size of the Space Needle were to hit Earth, the resulting impact would devastate most of the planet’s land area and cause tremendous damage to infrastructure. The impact could also release a vast amount of energy, which could cause catastrophic wildfires, Hurt people through radioactive materials released into the atmosphere, and disrupt global communication and electronics.