A huge asteroid is about to hit Earth today at very close range. NASA has revealed key details about the asteroid.
Although NASA regularly issues warnings against small asteroids that often make close trips to Earth, large space rocks are rare when they tumble towards us. While these asteroids are hundreds of feet across, they are still not large enough to cause catastrophic devastation that will end all life. In fact, NASA estimates that an asteroid would need to be at least 96 kilometers in diameter to be considered a planetary killer. But that doesn’t mean we should completely ignore all of the space agency’s warnings. Small asteroids can still cause huge loss of life if they hit a crowded city.
Now, look out, another asteroid is heading towards Earth at incredible speed today, and it’s huge!
NASA’s Planetary Defense Coordination Office, which monitors dangerous near-Earth objects (NEOs), has flagged an asteroid called Asteroid 2010 XC15 in red due to its proximity to the planet.
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Background information on the asteroid 2010 XC15
The asteroid will approach Earth today, December 27, at a distance of only 772,318 kilometers. According to NASA, the space rock is already on its way to the planet at a speed of about 36,358 kilometers per hour, which is more than the speed of a hypersonic ballistic missile! What distinguishes this asteroid from other asteroids is its enormous size. NASA has revealed that it is a 570-foot tall monster, the size of a tall skyscraper!
According to the-sky.org, 2010 XC15 belongs to the Apollo group of asteroids. It was discovered more than a decade ago on December 5, 2010. This asteroid takes 229 days to complete one revolution, its maximum distance from the Sun is 156 million km, and its minimum distance is 64 million km.
Did you know
According to NASA, the orbits of asteroids can be altered by Jupiter’s enormous gravity and occasional close encounters with similar planets or other objects. These accidental encounters can knock asteroids out of the main belt and hurl them in all directions through space through the orbits of other planets.
