📷 Image Credits: Times Now
As NASA tracks the 120-foot asteroid, 2022 MM1, hurtling towards Earth at an astonishing speed of 39,295 kilometers per hour, the world holds its breath for this weekend’s celestial event. The news of an airplane-sized asteroid approaching our planet has sparked curiosity and concern among space enthusiasts and scientists alike.
The Asteroid Watch dashboard, managed by JPL for NASA, provides crucial information about upcoming close approaches of asteroids and comets to Earth. This dashboard displays the date of closest approach, approximate object diameter, relative size, and distance from Earth for each encounter. It’s an essential tool in monitoring potentially hazardous objects that could pose a threat to our planet.
With the average distance between Earth and the moon being approximately 239,000 miles, the proximity of the approaching asteroid, 2022 MM1, at 39,295 kilometers per hour raises alarms. The dashboard showcases the next five Earth approaches within 4.6 million miles, defining objects larger than 150 meters that can approach Earth within this range as potentially hazardous.
In a previous event, an asteroid as big as a skyscraper and stadium passed within 1.7 million miles of Earth. While there was no risk of impact due to the safe distance, such encounters serve as reminders of the cosmic threats surrounding our planet. The space rock’s estimated size between 690 feet and 1,575 feet puts it in the range of prominent landmarks like New York City’s Empire State Building or Chicago’s Willis Tower.
NASA categorizes objects passing within 4.6 million miles of Earth and larger than 492 feet as ‘potentially hazardous.’ Discovered in 2008, the asteroid designated as 2008 OS7 is slated for a distant encounter in 2032 after its upcoming flyby this week. This cosmic dance of celestial bodies underscores the importance of continuous monitoring and research to safeguard our planet from potential impacts.
As we await the weekend event when the airplane-sized asteroid races towards Earth, the scientific community remains vigilant in tracking and analyzing such celestial phenomena. Stay tuned for updates and insights into NASA’s efforts in monitoring and studying asteroids to ensure the safety of our planet.
