Asteroids are found primarily in the main asteroid belt between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter in our solar system. However, their orbits in some cases bring them closer to Earth, potentially increasing the risk of impact. This close association with the asteroid highlights the importance of continued technological development in asteroid detection and monitoring programs such as NASA’s DART test. This will help keep our planet safe from the potential impact of these space rocks. Using sophisticated telescopes on the ground and in space, NASA has tracked an asteroid whose orbit will bring it closer to Earth tomorrow, December 28. Find out all about this close encounter.
Asteroid 2023 YD: Details
According to the Center for Near Earth Object Studies (CNEOS), the asteroid, named Asteroid 2023 YD, is heading towards Earth and may approach the planet tomorrow. This near-Earth space rock is estimated to have passed Earth at a short distance of just 605,000 kilometers today. It is already hurtling through its orbit at a speed of about 35,784 kilometers per hour, much faster than an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM)!
It belongs to the group of near-Earth asteroids belonging to the Apollo group, namely space rocks that cross the Earth, whose main axis is larger than those on Earth. According to NASA, this asteroid is named after the large asteroid Apollo 1862 discovered by German astronomer Karl Reinmuth in the 1930s.
How big is the asteroid?
In terms of size, Asteroid 2023 YD is almost 32 meters wide, almost as big as an airplane! Although much larger than the Chelyabinsk asteroid that caused damage to Earth in 2013, this space rock is not large enough to be classified as a potentially hazardous object and is not expected to cause damage to Earth.
How do asteroids approach Earth?
NASA says the asteroid’s orbit could be altered by Jupiter’s immense gravity and occasional close encounters with planets like Mars or other objects. This chance encounter could knock an asteroid out of the main belt and fly off into space in any direction following the orbit of another planet.
2023-12-27 05:43:12
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