From the sea – A giant asteroid is large today 27 May, hurtling at a speed of 47,200 mph and is closest to Earth. Phenomenon Asteroids can be seen using a telescope in the night sky.
Asteroid 7335 (1989 JA) is about 2.5 million miles (4 million kilometers) away — or nearly 10 times the average distance between Earth and the moon.
However, given the enormous size of the space rock (1.1 miles, or 1.8 km in diameter) and its relative proximity to Earth, NASA Center for Near Earth Object Studies (CNEOS), has classified the asteroid as “potentially hazardous.”
That is, it does great damage to our planet if its orbit changes and the rock impacts Earth.
Because it is considered potentially dangerous if an asteroid has a width of at least 460 feet and is within 4.6 million miles of Earth’s orbit around the sun.
This may sound close on a cosmic scale, but it is more than 19 times farther away than the moon from Earth.
Scientists estimate the asteroid is moving at about 47,200 mph (76,000 km/h) or 20 times faster than a speeding bullet.
This asteroid is one of more than 29,000 near-Earth objects (NEOs) that NASA tracks each year. One of more than 29,000 near-Earth objects (NEOs) that NASA tracks each year.
NEO refers to any astronomical object that passes within about 30 million miles (48 million km) of Earth’s orbit.
Most of these objects are very small. The 7335 (1989 JA) is larger than about 99% of the NEOs NASA monitors.
7335 (1989 JA) also belongs to a class of asteroids called the Apollo class — which refers to asteroids that orbit the sun while periodically crossing Earth’s orbit. Astronomers know about 15,000 such asteroids.
According to Accuweather.com a large asteroid more than a mile wide will make a closer-than-usual journey past Earth towards the end of May. This asteroid can also be seen in the sky.
On May 27, the giant asteroid will make its closest encounter with our planet since its discovery. The asteroid will pass through Earth safely without the threat of impact.
Towards the end of the month, Asteroid 7335 will come within 2.5 million miles of Earth, which is just over 10 times farther than the moon.
This flyby will be a good opportunity for scientists to make better observations of the asteroid, as well as a chance for amateur stargazers to see it in the sky.
Stargazers hoping to catch a glimpse of the asteroid can find it at the sky south near the constellation Hydra.
However, a telescope would be needed to see the boulder as it would not be bright enough to be seen with the naked eye.
Some sky watchers have found Asteroid 7335, and it will gradually become easier to see on the evening of May 27.
Source: Accuweather.com, Livescience.com and Space.com
–
