– A massive asteroid is expected to fly by earth tomorrow
– It is estimated to be nearly 1.5km wide
– It is the closest it will pass near earth in 400 years
A massive asteroid that is estimated to be nearly 1.5km wide is expected to fly by earth tomorrow, April 19.
The asteroid, which American space agency NASA identifies as Object 2014 JO25 and nicknames “The Rock,” is expected to come within 4.6 lunar distances of earth.
This will be the closest it will approach the earth for at least 400 years, according to NASA.
An artist’s representation of the asteroid passing by earth
NASA has also labelled the asteroid “potentially dangerous,” which means it could come much closer to earth at some point in the distant future.
It also indicates that this is the closest encounter the planet has had with an asteroid this size over the past 10 years.
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In a statement, NASA says: “The 2017 flyby is the closest by an asteroid at least this large since the encounter by 4179 Toutatis at four lunar distances in September 2004.”
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That notwithstanding, it means that the earth is still safe, as 4.6 lunar distances translates to about 1.7 million kilometers from earth.
Watch an animated calculation below of the asteroid’s orbit calculated last year by Ron Baalke, a space scientist.
Watch the video below is there any light at the end of the tunnel:
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