An asteroid the size of an airplane could soon make its closest trip to Earth. NASA reveals its distance, trajectory and speed.
Scientists believe that asteroids are debris from the formation of our solar system and may provide valuable information about the early stages of planetary development. Some asteroids, known as near-Earth asteroids, can come close to our planet, raising concerns about the possibility of a collision. However, NASA and other space agencies actively track these asteroids and have systems in place to detect and deflect any potential threats.
NASA estimates that an asteroid would have to be at least 60 miles across to be considered a planet killer. But that doesn’t mean we should completely ignore all alerts issued by the space agency. Small asteroids are still capable of causing localized destruction if they hit the surface. NASA has now warned that an asteroid is on its way to Earth.
Details of the asteroid 2020 BP
The asteroid, named Asteroid 2020 BP, will make its closest approach to Earth tomorrow, January 19, at a distance of 3.5 million kilometers. According to NASA, the space rock is heading towards the planet traveling at a speed of almost 62084 kilometers per hour, more than the speed of a hypersonic ballistic missile! NASA estimates this asteroid to be nearly 80 feet across, making it as big as a plane.
According to the-sky.org, the asteroid 2020 BP belongs to the Apollo group of asteroids. It was discovered on January 18, 2020. This asteroid takes 1089 days to complete a trip around the Sun during which its maximum distance from the Sun is 508 million kilometers and the closest distance is 111 million kilometers.
did you know
According to NASA, asteroids’ orbits can be changed by Jupiter’s massive gravity and by occasional close encounters with planets like Mars or other objects. These accidental encounters can knock asteroids out of the main belt and launch them into space in all directions through the orbits of the other planets.
