NASA is on alert as massive 110-feet asteroid 2020 RL is about to make its close approach to Earth on August 27.
The asteroid, which is around the size of a commercial aeroplane, will pass the Earth at a scary distance of 2.91 million miles.
This is a close approach but it is not dangerous as this is more than 12 times the distance between the Earth and the Moon, which is a safe distance as per the cosmic standards.
The asteroid is hurtling towards Earth at a staggering speed of about 20,000 miles per hour. NASA’s Near-Earth Object Observations Programme, which tracks space rocks, marked 2020 RL as not being a potential threat to Earth.
Asteroid 2020 RL, even though it is not the largest or closest space rock to fly by Earth, is significant because of its size and proximity.
Such asteroids are not uncommon and provide opportunities for scientists to study the trajectory, composition and potential impact risks of Near-Earth Objects (NEOs).
The observations of such objects help in refining models of their orbits and also help in decoding the behaviour of asteroids when they come close to the Earth.
NASA and other space agencies have been monitoring NEOs to ensure they are able to identify any potential threats in advance.
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On August 28, the 92-foot asteroid 2021 RA10 will fly by Earth and asteroid 2012 SX49, which is 110 feet wide, will make its close approach on August 29.
How is NASA tracking asteroids?
NASA, along with other space agencies, has established a network of telescopes and advanced computing for identifying near-Earth objects (NEOs).
Even though many of the NEOs don’t come very near to Earth, some of them do come at a scary distance and get tagged as potentially hazardous asteroids which need more attention.
Such asteroids are more than 460 feet (140 metres) in size and their orbits bring them within a distance of 7.5 million kilometres from Earth. NASA’s Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) has been monitoring all the NEOs and looking for any potential impact risks.
(With inputs from agencies)