Monstrous 170-foot asteroid to make a close approach to Earth today! NASA reveals details

Could this aircraft-sized asteroid impact the Earth and cause any damage?

By: HT TECH
| Updated on: Jan 06 2023, 12:04 IST
Asteroid threat looms! 5 asteroids set to buzz Earth soon, NASA reveals
asteroid
1/5 Asteroid 2019 AY3 - NASA has red-flagged an asteroid named Asteroid 2019 AY3 due to its extremely close approach to the planet. The asteroid has a width of 190 feet, making it nearly as big as an aircraft, and will make its closest approach to Earth today, January 4 at a distance of 6.4 million kilometers per hour and is already on its way travelling at a speed of nearly 71074 kilometers per hour.  (Wikimedia Commons)
asteroid
2/5 Asteroid 2022 YS4 - This space rock is on its way towards Earth and will make a close approach today, January 4. This asteroid is nearly the size of an aircraft with a width of 85 feet. The Asteroid 2022 YS4 is expected to make its closest approach to the planet at a distance of 2.2 million kilometers at a speed of 24470 kilometers per hour.  (Wikimedia Commons)
asteroid
3/5 Asteroid 2022 YL4 – This asteroid, with a size ranging between 26 feet and 59 feet, will make its close trip to Earth tomorrow, January 5 at a distance of nearly 1.9 million kilometers. The asteroid, known as Asteroid 2022 YL4, is already rushing towards Earth slower than other asteroids at a speed of 7038 kilometers per hour.  (Pixabay)
asteroid
4/5 Asteroid 2022 YN1 – Another asteroid named Asteroid 2022 YN1 is heading for Earth and will make a close approach on January 6. This asteroid, with a size between 131 feet and 291 feet, is heading for Earth at a blistering speed of 19836 kilometers per hour. It will miss Earth at a distance of 7 million kilometers.  (Pixabay)
image caption
5/5 Asteroid 2021 TL – The fifth and largest asteroid, with a size ranging between 183 feet and 393 feet, is named Asteroid 2021 TL and will be making its closest Earth approach on January 9. It will come as close as 5.4 million kilometers, according to NASA JPL. The asteroid is moving at a blistering speed of 30422 kilometer per hour. (Pixabay)
asteroid
icon View all Images
Know the details of this huge asteroid, as per NASA. (Wikimedia Commons)

Nearly 100 tons of dust-sized particles are bombarded on the Earth every day. Once a year, a vehicle-sized asteroid hits Earth's atmosphere, creating a giant fireball although it burns up before reaching the surface. According to NASA, every 2000 years, an asteroid the size of a football field hits Earth and causes significant damage to the area. If you're wondering about planet-killing asteroids, they come along only once every few million years. But that doesn't mean small asteroids are safe. If these space rocks impact the surface, they have the potential to cause localized damage. And now, NASA has warned of another asteroid, and it is a big one.

Asteroid 2022 YN1 key details

NASA's Planetary Defense Coordination Office has issued an alert against an asteroid named Asteroid 2022 YN1. The 170 feet wide asteroid, which is nearly the size of a commercial aircraft, is expected to fly past Earth closely today, January 6, at a relatively far distance of 7 million kilometers. The asteroid is already on its way towards Earth, travelling at a staggering speed of 19836 kilometers per hour.

NASA has issued a warning classifying the Asteroid 2022 YN1 as a “Potentially Hazardous Object” due to the close proximity with which it will pass by Earth. Although it will not collide with Earth, a slight deviation in its trajectory due to the gravitational pull can send it towards Earth.

Also read
Looking for a smartphone? To check mobile finder click here.

According to the-sky.org, Asteroid 2022 YN1 was discovered just last month on December 18. It belongs to the Apollo group of asteroids and orbits the Sun in around 524 days. During this orbit, the asteroid's farthest point from the Sun is at a distance of 239 million kilometers and its nearest point is 142 million kilometers.

Did you know?

Most of the asteroids are observed with the help of the NEOWISE Project which repurposed NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer to work as a survey telescope and scan the sky for Near-Earth Objects. NASA then uses its ground-based radar to gather precise data about the asteroid's path and its characteristics.

Catch all the Latest Tech News, Mobile News, Laptop News, Gaming news, Wearables News , How To News, also keep up with us on Whatsapp channel,Twitter, Facebook, Google News, and Instagram. For our latest videos, subscribe to our YouTube channel.

First Published Date: 06 Jan, 11:12 IST
Tags:
NEXT ARTICLE BEGINS