- It is unlikely that an asterid will hit Earth because NASA has the technology to drop it.
- Even if it were possible to hit Earth, it would not cause a global disaster.
CLEAR — US National Space Agency (NASA) scientist identifies an asteroid the size of an Olympic swimming pool which is expected to approach Earth on Valentine’s Day 2046.
“The asteroid is named 2023 DW. We are watching it closely, after discovering it earlier this week,” NASA said in a statement. “However, it is unlikely that the asteroid will hit Earth.”
According to NASA, once a new asteroid is discovered it will take several weeks for scientists to reduce uncertainty and adequately predict its orbit in the next few years.
Asteroid 2023 DW is about 49 meters in diameter, and is currently 17 billion kilometers from Earth. Orbit analysts are set to continue to monitor the asteroid, and update predictions as more data comes in.
NASA says if the asteroid does hit Earth, it is unlikely to cause a global catastrophe. In 1908, an asteroid of the same size exploded over the forests of East Siberia, killing three people.
The asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs is estimated to be between 10 and 15 kilometers wide. So, humans on land don’t have to worry about space rocks destroying the Earth.
Last year NASA conducted a crazy test knocking an asteroid out of its way, and it was successful. This is shown in the pictures released earlier this month.
The Double Asteroid Diversion Test, known as DART, successfully prevented an asteroid collision that could potentially destroy Earth.
