Asteroid today: NASA clocks Asteroid 2023 FT2 speeding towards Earth at 43249 kmph

NASA has warned of an asteroid that is approaching Earth speedily and it will come extremely close to Earth as soon as today, as per NASA.

Asteroid 2023 FT2 belongs to the Apollo group of asteroids. (Pixabay)

NASA, ESA and other space agencies keep an eye on any Potentially Hazardous Object which has the potential to impact the Earth's surface and cause damage. As many as 5 asteroids passed by Earth at very close distances just yesterday, according to NASA. Although none of these asteroids collided, their close approach serves as a reminder to observe and track these space rocks. NASA has tracked an asteroid heading for Earth, and it is expected to make its closest approach to the planet today.

Asteroid 2023 FT2 information

The asteroid has been named Asteroid 2023 FT2 by NASA's Center for Near-Earth Object Studies. The same organization has also revealed its trajectory, distance of close approach and expected speed. Asteroid 2023 FT2 will pass Earth today, March 24, at a distance of 2.6 million kilometers. As per NASA, the asteroid is between 55 feet and 121 feet wide.

NASA has also revealed that this space rock is already rushing towards the planet, travelling at a fearsome speed of 43249 kilometers per hour. It 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.

Efforts to study asteroids

In recent years, there has been a growing effort to track and study asteroids that could potentially threaten Earth. NASA's DART test was carried out as the first planetary defense test against potential asteroid impact. NASA studied the asteroids Didymos and Dimorphos to better understand the potential threat of asteroid impacts and to develop techniques for deflecting them. ESA's Hera spacecraft observed the result of the collision and reported the findings for further study.

Although no asteroid is expected to hit the planet and cause major catastrophe for at least next 100 years, these close approaches serve as a reminder of the importance of continuing to study and track asteroids to better understand and prepare for potential threats.