“Astronomical research” clarifies the fact that asteroids collide with Earth towards the end of the year

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Dr. Gad Al-Qadi, President of the National Institute for Astronomical and Geophysical Research, stated that during the remaining period of this year, astronomers around the world will witness the monitoring of some asteroids approaching the Earth during the period (25-30 December 2020), which are at great distances from planet Earth , As the closest of them will be at a distance twice the distance between the earth and the moon, and do not represent any threat, and there are no opportunities for collision or collision, as some sites are common.

Dr. Usama Rahmeh, head of the Sun Research Laboratory at the Institute, said that one of the most important of these asteroids is the asteroid (501647) 2014 SD224, which was discovered on September 22, 2014 by a monitoring system (Pan-STARRS1) located at the (Haleakala) observatory in Hawaii and has a diameter of about 150 meters. And, it was observed over the past six years, as its orbit became fully known, rotating in an elliptical orbit around the sun and completing its orbit around the sun in 353.15 days. The asteroid will be at its closest point to Earth on Friday, December 25, 2020 at 20:20 GMT and at a distance of 0.02 astronomical units, about 3 million km, which is considered a safe distance, and its brightness will not increase to the brightness of Pluto.

Ashraf Shaker, professor and head of the astronomy department at the institute, added that these celestial bodies are monitored through research working groups at the institute dealing with the observation of near-Earth objects using the telescopes available at the institute, either in the Kattameya Astronomical Observatory or at the headquarters of the main institute in Helwan.

The institute called on all citizens who have any questions or inquiries about any natural phenomenon (astronomical or geophysical) to communicate directly with the institute through the available communication channels to clarify any information or answer any question.