An Asteroid Larger Than a Skyscraper is Coming Closer to Earth Than the Moon.

THE PALMS – A asteroid The skyscraper-sized asteroid 2023 DZ2 is hurtling toward Earth. It is estimated that asteroid 2023 DZ2 will pass by Earth at half the distance of the Moon on Saturday 25 March 2023.

Asteroid 2023 DZ2 three times the size of the asteroid that blew out a window over Chelyabinsk, Russia in 2013. Fortunately, asteroid 2023 DZ2 only passes through planet Earth at a speed of 28,044 km/hour.

According to EarthSky, asteroid 2023 DZ2 was first discovered by astronomers at the La Palma Observatory in the Canary Islands in February 2023. The asteroid is estimated to be between 44 and 99 meters in diameter and is categorized as an Apollo class asteroid because it crosses Earth’s orbit.

Although the origin of asteroid 2023 DZ2 is unknown, most of the near-Earth asteroids originate from the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter that are out of their typical orbits. According to the Encyclopedia of Physical Science and Technology (2003), this event occurs due to interaction with Jupiter.

If the asteroid 2023 DZ2 crashes into Earth, it has the potential to cause major damage. The Chelyabinsk meteor that exploded over Russia in 2013 was most likely about 18 meters long.

The asteroid damaged 7,000 buildings, injuring more than 1,400 people (most of them due to flying glass). Well, the asteroid 2023 DZ2 is estimated to be three times bigger.

Fortunately, according to the Virtual Telescope Project, the asteroid will still be about 173,000 kilometers from Earth. After passing by Earth, it’s likely that the asteroid will disappear because astronomers who study it more estimate the space rock orbits the sun every 3.17 years.

Although 2023 DZ2 does not currently pose a threat to Earth, the NASA Center for Near Earth Studies Sentry program is currently monitoring 24 space rock objects that are known to be approaching Earth. However, the chances of a space rock hitting Earth are extremely slim.

(wib)