Jakarta –
Some time ago, the world was shocked by rumors about a giant asteroid the size of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France which would hit Earth. The rumor also states that the time this happened was October 5, 2024.
Widely discussed, the United States Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) responded to these rumors. They said there was no need to worry about this because it was just a prediction on a scale of 1 in 11 million.
This means that NASA’s Center for Near Earth Object Studies (JPL) identified 89 potential impacts from the presence of this giant asteroid called 2007 FT3. One of them is a collision that occurred on October 5, 2024.
However, they further explained that one of the potential points for the collision did not occur directly on Earth but was at the point closest to Earth. This prediction was issued in 2019, but the collision did not occur.
To get to know the asteroid 2007 FT3 more deeply, let’s look at various interesting facts quoted from CNN Indonesia to Unilad, Thursday (4/1/2024).
3 Facts about Asteroid 2007 FT3 as Big as the Eiffel Tower
1. The missing asteroid
One of the nicknames attached to the asteroid 2007 FT3 is the lost asteroid. This celestial object was first discovered in 2007 but was only visible for 1.2 days until it finally disappeared from NASA’s observations.
Asteroid 2007 FT3 is up to 314 meters long. This size is compared to the Eiffel Tower which is 330 meters high.
If it hit Earth, this lost asteroid would release 2.6 billion tons of TNT. That’s about 2,600 megatrons of TNT or about 48 Tsar Bombs exploding.
The Tsar Bomb was the largest nuclear bomb and the most powerful nuclear weapon in history owned by the Soviet Union.
2. Denied by NASA, it will not hit Earth
Through IFL Science, NASA and other observatories continue to track various celestial objects near Earth that measure 140 meters or larger. It is said that an object that large could cause destruction if it collided with Earth.
One thing that can be noted is that astronomers predict that no object measuring more than 140 meters has a significant chance of hitting Earth in the next 100 years. Thus, the asteroid 2007 FT3 is also not on the radar for a collision with Earth for the next century.
“There is no threat of a known asteroid impact hitting Earth in the next century. NASA and its partners diligently scan the sky to find, track, and categorize asteroids and near-Earth objects (NEOs), including those that may come close to Earth,” a spokesperson said NASA.
Basically, large objects will be easy for astronomers to detect and anticipate. So if the asteroid 2007 FT3 is on the radar, it should be well known and understood for years to decades.
UNILAD also explained that the possibility of the asteroid 2007 FT3 hitting Earth on October 5 2024 is very small. This date is considered to sound very specific, even though the impact could occur between 2004 and 2116.
The asteroids and other currently known objects closest to Earth are called NEA/NEO. NASA estimates that there are 32,000 NEA/NEOs and around 120 comets that will pass near Earth in the next few hundred years.
3. Asteroid 2007 FT3 is not the largest
Even though it is considered to cause a lot of damage, the largest asteroid that could hit Earth is not 2007 FT3. But the asteroid 29075 (1950 DA) is capable of ending all life on Earth as a whole, but no further predictions regarding this are known.
Another theory about an asteroid that might hit Earth concerns the planet Jupiter. Yes, the largest planet in the solar system.
Not directly, Jupiter is thought to act as a shield for Earth. However, the asteroid directly hit Jupiter.
After the impact, the impact may reach Earth. Even so, the impact may not be too detrimental to life on Earth.
So, those are 3 facts about an asteroid the size of the Eiffel Tower which will hit Earth in October 2024. Don’t panic and make sure it’s true, detikers!
Watch the video “Scientists in England Start Examining Samples of the Asteroid Bennu”
(det/gas)
2024-01-04 05:30:00
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