130-foot asteroid to pass Earth today, reveals NASA; Check speed, size and other details | Tech News

130-foot asteroid to pass Earth today, reveals NASA; Check speed, size and other details

NASA says a close encounter with a 130-foot asteroid is expected to take place today, January 23. Know its speed, size, distance of approach, and more, as per the US Space Agency.

By: HT TECH
| Updated on: Jan 23 2024, 10:14 IST
370-foot asteroid, 4 other space rocks to pass Earth soon, reveals NASA; Check details
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1/7 Asteroid 2020 AC1 - The first asteroid to pass Earth today, January 11, is designated Asteroid 2020 AC1. During its approach, it will come as close as 7.3 million kilometers to the planet. According to NASA, the space rock is 23 feet wide and is travelling at a speed of almost 19139 kilometers per hour. (Pixabay)
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2/7 Asteroid 2023 WZ3 – The second asteroid on its way is designated Asteroid 2023 WZ3, and it will pass by Earth today, January 11. According to NASA, this space rock has a staggering width of 115 feet. Its orbit will take it almost as close as 6.1 million kilometers to the planet’s surface while moving at a speed of 14352 kilometers per hour. (Pixabay)
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3/7 Asteroid 2020 AC1 - The first asteroid to pass Earth today, January 11, is designated Asteroid 2020 AC1. During its approach, it will come as close as 7.3 million kilometers to the planet. According to NASA, the space rock is 23 feet wide and is travelling at a speed of almost 19139 kilometers per hour. (Pixabay)
asteroid
4/7 Asteroid 2023 WZ3 – The second asteroid on its way is designated Asteroid 2023 WZ3, and it will pass by Earth today, January 11. According to NASA, this space rock has a staggering width of 115 feet. Its orbit will take it almost as close as 6.1 million kilometers to the planet’s surface while moving at a speed of 14352 kilometers per hour. (Pixabay)
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5/7 Asteroid 2024 AR1 – Another space rock named Asteroid 2024 AR1 will pass Earth on January 13. In terms of size, the asteroid is almost 115 feet wide. As per NASA, it will come as close as 3.8 million kilometers and is already moving at a speed of 16318 kilometers per hour. (Pixabay)
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6/7 Asteroid 2015 AK1 – Asteroid 2015 AK1 will pass by Earth on January 15. During its close approach, it will come as close as 6 million kilometers to the planet’s surface. With a width of nearly 170 feet, the space rock is speeding towards Earth at 47608 kilometers per hour. (Pixabay)
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7/7 Asteroid 2021 CZ2 – Asteroid 2021 CZ2, with a width of nearly 370 feet, will pass Earth on January 16. According to NASA, this asteroid is travelling at almost 51636 kilometers per hour and will pass the planet at a distance of 3 million kilometers. (Pixabay )
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Asteroid 2021 BL3 belongs to the Apollo group of asteroids, according to NASA. Check details. (Pixabay)

There have been many instances of asteroids passing by Earth in the last few weeks. Just yesterday, a 45 feet wide asteroid flew past the planet at a distance of approximately 3 million kilometers. Due to such close calls with asteroids, NASA, ESA, and other space agencies have developed technology to track these space rocks in their orbits, and even deflect them in case a potential impact scenario develops. Using its tech, NASA has now shed light on an asteroid that is expected to pass Earth today, January 23. Know all about this close approach.

Asteroid 2021 BL3: Speed, size, distance, and more

As per the details issued by NASA's Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS), the asteroid has been designated as Asteroid 2021 BL3. Asteroid 2021 BL3 is expected to pass Earth at a distance of approximately 6.6 million kilometers today. It is already travelling towards Earth in its orbit at 84220 kilometers per hour which is even faster than most space shuttles!

This space rock belongs to the Apollo group of Near-Earth Asteroids, which are Earth-crossing space rocks with semi-major axes larger than Earth's. These asteroids are named after the humongous 1862 Apollo asteroid, discovered by German astronomer Karl Reinmuth in the 1930s.

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According to NASA, this is not the first time that Asteroid 2021 BL3 has come close to Earth. It first passed the planet on February 17, 1979, at a distance of approximately 74 million kilometers. After today, it will pass the planet at a distance of 24 million kilometers on January 20, 2027.

How big is it?

Asteroid 2021 BL3 is almost the size of a massive aircraft, with a width of nearly 130 feet! However, it has been deemed non-threatening and has not been classified as a Potentially Hazardous Object, meaning that it does not pose a danger to Earth.

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First Published Date: 23 Jan, 10:14 IST
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