Scientists constantly observe the Earth’s immediate surroundings and report on new asteroids or comets that may potentially threaten our planet. Now NASA has published a list of five asteroids that will be in the immediate vicinity of Earth in the coming days.
An asteroid the size of a stadium will zoom past Earth. But that’s not the end
Asteroid 2008 OS7 became loud in the media, because this space rock is by far the largest. According to researchers’ calculations, it is approximately 271 meters in diameter, which NASA compares to the size of a sports stadium (other estimates say the diameter ranges from 210 to 480 meters). Relatively close passes of such large asteroids are therefore rare. Typically, rocks with diameters ranging from several to several dozen meters approach the Earth.
In the case of 2008 OS7, we are already dealing with a potentially very dangerous asteroid which – if it hit the Earth – could cause a space catastrophe of at least regional scale. For comparison: an asteroid with a diameter of only 17-20 meters was responsible for the famous Chelyabinsk meteor (which appeared over Russia in 2013 and injured at least 1,500 people).
2008 OS7 belongs to the Apollo group and is on the list of potentially hazardous asteroids (PHA). Fortunately, researchers see no reason to worry, because 2008 OS7 will pass the Earth at a safe distance. The closest approach of the rock to our planet will take place next Friday, February 2, and the distance will be a safe 2.85 million km (according to NASA). For comparison, the average distance from the Moon is about 385,000. km. 2008 OS7 will be more than seven times further away.
In the coming days, apart from 2008 OS7, there will be four other asteroids near the Earth that scientists know about. The recently discovered 2024 BA3 will be the first to fly past our planet. It is only 6 meters in diameter and on January 30 there will be 599,000. kilometers from the Earth’s surface. On the same day, asteroid 2007 EG will pass our planet at a safe distance of 6.11 million km. The next two space rocks – 2024 BY (19 m in diameter, 2.53 million km away) and 2003 BM4 (37 m in diameter, 3.32 million km away) – will fly relatively close to Earth on February 1.
Source: Gazeta
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