![]() ![]() But that impact assessment changed after astronomers tracked Apophis and its orbit became better determined. The comet’s journey is the opportunity of a lifetime for scientists anxious to learn about the conditions and building blocks of the solar system that one day led to Earth and all its life. When it was discovered in 2004, Apophis was identified as one of the most hazardous asteroids that could impact Earth. Asteroids smaller than 25 m will most likely burn up as they enter the planet’s atmosphere. Asteroid 99942 Apophis is a near-Earth object (NEO) estimated to be about 1,100 feet (340 meters) across. ![]() Many of them, including NASA, have made contingency plans to protect the planet from any potential collision.Īccording to, smaller asteroids that are believed to strike the planet every 1,000 to 10,000 years can lead to devastating tsunamis or destroy a city. If one of the space rocks comes within 4.65 million miles of the Earth’s orbit and is over about 500 feet across, it's flagged off as “potentially hazardous” by space agencies. As per the space agency, the total mass of all the asteroids combined is less than that of Earth's Moon. There are currently 1,113,527 known asteroids, most of which can be found orbiting the Sun between Jupiter and Mars. However, it would be hard to 'see' in this case, just like its kind of hard to see an arrow. Asteroid 388945 (2008 TZ3) will next come this close to the Earth in May 2163.Īsteroids are rocky, airless remnants that have been leftover from the early formation of our solar system about 4.6 billion years ago, according to NASA. Its possible for a comets tail to point towards Earth, if the comet is between Earth and the Sun. The asteroid will next come close to the planet in 2024, though nowhere as near as time. The asteroid routinely passes by the Earth while orbiting the Sun, with the last instance being in 2020. The huge asteroid will pass from a distance of about 2.5 million miles away, which has made the space agency flag it off as a “close approach.” A space rock of this size can cause huge damage if it ever hits the planet. The asteroid, is bigger than most buildings on the planet, including New York’s iconic Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty as well as Paris’s Eiffel Tower. The trail of gases and dust behind C/2017 K2 is assessed to be between 130,000 and 800,000 kilometers (81,000 and 500,000 miles) across. Asteroid 388945 (2008 TZ3) will be closest to earth at 2:48 am on the same day, according to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). ![]() The massive comet is at least 80 miles across, making it twice the width of Rhode Island. Scientists have warned that a 1,600-feet asteroid will pass by the earth in the early hours of 16 May. An ancient comet, believed to be over 4 billion years old is headed towards the Earth. ![]()
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