An asteroid the size of Baiyoke Tower 2 will make its closest pass by Earth in more than 100 years on February 2. NASA insists it is not dangerous.
NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (NASA) reports that asteroid 2008 OS7, which has a diameter of approximately 271 meters, or nearly as big as Baiyoke 2, will pass Earth at a distance of approximately 2.85 million kilometers, the closest it has been in more than 100 years. On February 2nd
Due to its size and proximity to Earth This asteroid is therefore classified as being potentially dangerous at the level of a “City Killer” if it hits Earth. It can wipe out a large city like New York.
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But don’t worry. NASA confirmed that there was absolutely no chance it would hit Earth. Because this distance is equal to 7 times the distance from the Earth to the Moon.
Asteroid 2008 OS7 was discovered in 2008 after crashing close to Earth this time. It will return again in 2032 and will be 72 million kilometers from Earth.
Those interested can watch this asteroid pass by Earth for themselves through a live broadcast from The Virtual Telescope Project, which will begin at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time (1:00 a.m. on February 3). according to Thailand time)
as it moves through the world The asteroid will travel at a speed of approximately 66,000 km/h.
Even though 2008 OS7 is not large enough to be called a “Planet Killer” or an asteroid that if it hits the Earth will cause almost all life to become extinct. It’s like the one that wiped out the dinosaurs 66 million years ago, but NASA is still keeping a close eye on it.
Currently, NASA has identified approximately 25,000 asteroids that could pose a danger to Earth, with most having a much lower risk of impact or near-Earth impact than 2008 OS7.
2008 OS7 has a broadly elliptical orbit. This means that it does not orbit the Sun the same way as Earth does. As a result, its distance from Earth varies each time it passes. For example, when this asteroid approached us shortly after Discovered in 2008, it is approximately 90 million kilometers away from us, 30 times farther away than the February 2 close.
Compiled from Live Science
