In Pics: Asteroid collision? NASA spots a 76-foot asteroid heading for Earth

NASA’s Planetary Defense Coordination Office, which is responsible for keeping an eye on Near-Earth Objects (NEOs), has red-flagged this asteroid due to the close proximity with Earth. Will there be an asteroid collision today? Know what NASA said about this asteroid.

By: HT TECH
| Updated on: Sep 26 2022, 13:58 IST
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Yesterday saw mass asteroid flybys! As many as four asteroids made close approaches with Earth in just one day and zoomed past at fearsome speeds. Now, NASA has warned that another massive asteroid is headed towards Earth. (HT_PRINT)
1/6 Yesterday saw mass asteroid flybys! As many as four asteroids made close approaches with Earth in just one day and zoomed past at fearsome speeds. Now, NASA has warned that another massive asteroid is headed towards Earth. (HT_PRINT)
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Asteroid 2022 SR4 belongs to the Apollo group of asteroids located in the asteroid belt near Jupiter. The asteroid takes 403 days to complete one orbit around the Sun. During this orbit, the asteroid’s maximum distance from the Sun is 210 million kilometers while it comes as close as 110 million kilometers at its nearest point. (Pixabay)
2/6 Asteroid 2022 SR4 belongs to the Apollo group of asteroids located in the asteroid belt near Jupiter. The asteroid takes 403 days to complete one orbit around the Sun. During this orbit, the asteroid’s maximum distance from the Sun is 210 million kilometers while it comes as close as 110 million kilometers at its nearest point. (Pixabay)
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The asteroid is hurtling dangerously towards Earth and is set to make its closest approach to the planet today, September 26, at a distance of just 3 million kilometers. The asteroid is already on its way towards Earth travelling at a staggering speed of 39,672 kilometers per hour, according to NASA. (Pixabay)
3/6 The asteroid is hurtling dangerously towards Earth and is set to make its closest approach to the planet today, September 26, at a distance of just 3 million kilometers. The asteroid is already on its way towards Earth travelling at a staggering speed of 39,672 kilometers per hour, according to NASA. (Pixabay)
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Although it is safe to say that people on Earth will remain unharmed as it is expected to pass by Earth at a safe distance. (Pixabay)
4/6 Although it is safe to say that people on Earth will remain unharmed as it is expected to pass by Earth at a safe distance. (Pixabay)
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NASA
NASA tech behind asteroid tracking - To track these asteroids, NASA conducts surveys done using its ground-based telescopes such as the Pans-STARRS1 in Maui, Hawaii, as well to identify thousands of Near-Earth Objects (NEOs). (NASA)
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5/6 NASA tech behind asteroid tracking - To track these asteroids, NASA conducts surveys done using its ground-based telescopes such as the Pans-STARRS1 in Maui, Hawaii, as well to identify thousands of Near-Earth Objects (NEOs). (NASA)
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NASA can track the orbital path of the asteroid using this infrared data and can even predict its orbit years into the future. As of now, nearly 28,000 near-Earth asteroids have been discovered using various survey telescopes which track objects in the sky. (NASA)
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6/6 NASA can track the orbital path of the asteroid using this infrared data and can even predict its orbit years into the future. As of now, nearly 28,000 near-Earth asteroids have been discovered using various survey telescopes which track objects in the sky. (NASA)
First Published Date: 26 Sep, 13:53 IST
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