NASA reports that a massive asteroid with a diameter of 720 feet is traveling at a speed of 25,000 miles per hour, or 40,233 kilometers per hour, in the direction of Earth.
A massive asteroid that is headed towards Earth has been reported to NASA. On September 15, this asteroid, which is traveling quite quickly, will pass close to Earth. This asteroid is larger than two cricket pitches, with reports stating that its diameter is 720 feet. This asteroid’s amazing speed has scientists curious about it. It is traveling at a speed of 25 thousand miles per hour, or 40,233 km per hour.
At a distance of roughly 6,20,000 miles, this asteroid, designated ON, will pass close to Earth on September 15. This is roughly 2.6 times Earth’s moon’s distance away. NASA’s NearEarth Object Observation Program located the ON asteroid. Because of its huge dimensions and rapid speed, NASA watches it daily.
Why is following asteroids important?
Tracking asteroids is a major function of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), which is situated in Pasadena, California, USA. Here, powerful radar and optical telescopes serve to track asteroids. Astronomers study the asteroid’s size, mass, speed, and structure, among additional features. It is also taken seriously that they may come into contact with Earth.
We have to keep an eye on the thousands of objects that may have hit Earth in the near-Earth space to make sure that none of them might endanger life as we know it. Dealing with near-Earth objects requires ongoing awareness and planning, according to NASA’s Planetary Defense Coordination Office (PDCO).