Taurid Asteroid Swarm, Possible Threat to Earth – HarapanRakyat.com

The asteroid Taurid Swarm is a collection of large meteoroids and asteroids that formed from the remnants of Comet Encke about 10,000 years ago. Jupiter’s gravity has pulled some of these meteoroids.

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Then they united them in a large cloud called the Doomsday Swarm. Collecting asteroid It is the focus of astronauts’ attention because it has the potential to hit Earth and cause massive damage.

Taurid Swarm Asteroid Threat and Early Detection Efforts

Asteroids are one of the space objects capable of destroying the Earth. In historical records, asteroid causing half of Earth’s species to become extinct.

Recently, a study found a large asteroid that could hit the planet Earth. The following is a description of the item an outdoor place named Halloween Fireball.

Risks of massive extinction

History records that asteroid collisions have caused massive extinctions on Earth. One of the most famous events was the impact of an asteroid about 10 kilometers in diameter that happened 66 million years ago.

The event created the Chicxulub Crater on the Yucatan Peninsula. The impact was terrible, eliminating more than half of the species on Earth, including dinosaurs, and marking the end of the Cretaceous period. So far, a threat asteroid such remains a major concern.

In-depth research on the Doomsday Swarm

A recent study led by Quanzhi Ye of the University of Maryland identified 14 massive objects in the Taurid Swarm asteroid. This object is also nicknamed the “Doomsday Swarm”.

Although the number of asteroids discovered is not as high as previously expected, the size and danger of these objects are still a cause for concern.

Some asteroids in the Taurid Swarm have a diameter of up to 10 kilometers. This size is much larger than the Chelyabinsk asteroid, which was only 20 meters in diameter but caused over 1,600 injuries when it hit Russia in 2013.

Taurid Swarm Appearance and Movement Patterns

The Taurid Swarm is a celestial phenomenon that is clearly visible every year from October to November. Especially when the Taurus constellation is at its highest at midnight.

This collection of meteoroids is called “Halloween fireballs” because it is often seen around late October and early November. The meteors that come out of the Taurid Swarm look very bright and sometimes they look like balls of fire ​​​​going quickly through the sky.

Taurid resonant swarm

The Taurid Swarm asteroid has the unique property of a retrograde pattern with the planet Jupiter. This causes large objects in this stream to approach Earth only every few decades.

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At certain times, the Earth passes through denser areas of these currents, increasing the likelihood of fireballs and potential threats from asteroids.

Halloween Asteroid Fireballs Time

From time to time, the Earth crosses the path of the Taurid Swarm every 3 to 7 years. At these times, the chance of a meteor shower occurring is higher than in normal years.

However, the greatest danger arises not only from small meteors. But from the possible accident asteroid great that can be in this stream.

As the Earth approaches the orbital region of the Taurid Swarm, the risk of collision with large objects in this group increases. Although most of it is rock an outdoor place Burning up in the atmosphere, large asteroids can pass through the atmosphere and cause great damage.

A philosophy like this reminds us that the movement of asteroids does not only create beauty in the sky. But there are also risks that need to be carefully scrutinized.

Mitigation Efforts and Monitoring Plan

Astronomers are warning that if one of the objects from the Taurid Swarm asteroid hits Earth, the impact could be very serious. This depends on the location and size of the impact. Such an accident could lead to a mass extinction, similar to the event that ended the era of the dinosaurs.

However, even if the risk is real, scientists believe that the probability of a major accident is relatively small. The importance of early detection and the development of surveillance technology is becoming more and more intense to deal with potential threats in the future.

The researchers plan to continue with deeper studies in 2025 and 2026, when the Earth will come close to the orbit of the Taurid Swarm again.

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The asteroid Taurid Swarm looks like threats from outer space. Although monitoring and mitigation technology continues to improve, more monitoring and research is needed to protect the earth from disasters. With early detection and global collaborative efforts, reducing the risk of adverse effects from asteroid as happened in the past. (R10/HR-Online)