Danger! Colossal 203-foot asteroid set to buzz Earth today at very close quarter, NASA says

NASA’s Planetary Defense Coordination Office has issued an alert for a huge asteroid today that is set for close approach to Earth today, November 8. Should you be worried about this space rock? Check out what NASA says.

Share Via

Although most asteroids are found in a belt between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter called the asteroid belt, some have made their way towards Earth in the past. Some of these space rocks have even caused a major impact and even triggered an extinction-level event. NASA has now warned that another one is on its way. (Pixabay)

photos

1/5 Although most asteroids are found in a belt between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter called the asteroid belt, some have made their way towards Earth in the past. Some of these space rocks have even caused a major impact and even triggered an extinction-level event. NASA has now warned that another one is on its way. (Pixabay)

Share Via

Although Earth is bombarded with asteroid flybys all year, none are potentially world-ending asteroids. That could change with a slight deflection in the asteroid’s trajectory due to interaction with Earth’s gravitational field which could send it tumbling towards it. (Pixabay)

2/5 Although Earth is bombarded with asteroid flybys all year, none are potentially world-ending asteroids. That could change with a slight deflection in the asteroid’s trajectory due to interaction with Earth’s gravitational field which could send it tumbling towards it. (Pixabay)

Share Via

NASA has warned that an asteroid is on its way towards Earth today. The asteroid, named Asteroid 2022 UC5, will make its closest approach to the planet today, November 8, at a distance of just 2.3 million kilometers. This space rock is colossal in size with a width ranging anywhere between 91 feet and 203 feet. It is already speeding towards Earth at nearly 46548 kilometers per hour! (Pixabay)

3/5 NASA has warned that an asteroid is on its way towards Earth today. The asteroid, named Asteroid 2022 UC5, will make its closest approach to the planet today, November 8, at a distance of just 2.3 million kilometers. This space rock is colossal in size with a width ranging anywhere between 91 feet and 203 feet. It is already speeding towards Earth at nearly 46548 kilometers per hour! (Pixabay)

Share Via

Worryingly, this is a newly found asteroid.According to the-sky.org, Asteroid 2022 UC5 was discovered on October 18. The asteroid belongs to the Apollo group of asteroids, which are a group of near-Earth asteroids named after the humongous 1862 Apollo asteroid, discovered by German astronomer Karl Reinmuth in the 1930s. The asteroid takes 1496 days to orbit the Sun during which its maximum distance from the Sun is 635 million kilometers and minimum distance is 131 million kilometers. (Pixabay)

4/5 Worryingly, this is a newly found asteroid.According to the-sky.org, Asteroid 2022 UC5 was discovered on October 18. The asteroid belongs to the Apollo group of asteroids, which are a group of near-Earth asteroids named after the humongous 1862 Apollo asteroid, discovered by German astronomer Karl Reinmuth in the 1930s. The asteroid takes 1496 days to orbit the Sun during which its maximum distance from the Sun is 635 million kilometers and minimum distance is 131 million kilometers. (Pixabay)

Share Via

NASA keeps a watch on these asteroids by studying data collected by various telescopes and observatories such as the Pan-STARRS, the Catalina Sky Survey and the NEOWISE telescope. NASA also has a NEO Surveyor mission planned for launch in 2026 to gain even greater in-depth data using a new orbiter. NASA can track the orbital path of the asteroid using this infrared data and can even predict its orbit years into the future. (NASA)

5/5 NASA keeps a watch on these asteroids by studying data collected by various telescopes and observatories such as the Pan-STARRS, the Catalina Sky Survey and the NEOWISE telescope. NASA also has a NEO Surveyor mission planned for launch in 2026 to gain even greater in-depth data using a new orbiter. NASA can track the orbital path of the asteroid using this infrared data and can even predict its orbit years into the future. (NASA)