By Ambreen Ali
Washington D.C, September 17,2024-NASA, the American space agency, has warned that today, a dangerous asteroid will pass by Earth. The asteroid is 290 meters wide and will pass within 1 million kilometers of Earth. This asteroid is roughly the size of a stadium. According to NASA data, this space rock last passed near Earth in 2013 and is expected to do so again in 2035. The asteroid, named 2024, does not pose a threat to Earth on its current path. However, even a slight deviation from its course could have significant consequences.
It is important to understand what an asteroid is. Asteroids are essentially large rocks or fragments that were scattered during the formation of the solar system. Most asteroids in our solar system are found between Mars and Jupiter in what is known as the “asteroid belt.” Those that come close to Earth while orbiting are termed “Near-Earth Asteroids” in astronomical terminology.
At present, the asteroid 2024 is on its predetermined path, but any deviation could potentially lead to destruction on Earth. However, it is too early to speculate. The asteroid passing by today will not be at its closest point to Earth. On the day when it is closest, skywatchers will instead witness a rare partial lunar eclipse, resembling a “supermoon.”
Looking back at history, research suggests that around 66 million years ago, a 10-15 kilometer-wide asteroid struck near the Chicxulub sea area in modern-day Mexico. The impact created a crater 150 kilometers wide and 20 kilometers deep. The collision sent so much dust and debris into Earth’s stratosphere that it blocked 80% of the sunlight. The amount of energy released was so immense that nearly no region of the Earth remained untouched by its destructive force.
Scientists argue that if this asteroid had hit somewhere else, the destruction may not have been as severe, and the dinosaurs may not have gone extinct. Asteroids, or “asteroids,” are bodies that freely move through our solar system and often cause significant destruction when they collide with other planets. For now, no immediate threat has been identified, although NASA has suggested a slim possibility of a newly discovered asteroid impacting Earth in 2046. This asteroid, named 2023 DW, could potentially affect Earth.
According to scientists, this asteroid, about the size of an Olympic swimming pool, may hit Earth on February 14, 2046. However, NASA estimates the likelihood of 2023 DW impacting Earth to be only 1% out of 560. Research also indicates that even if 2023 DW were to collide with Earth, its impact would be far less devastating than the one 66 million years ago that wiped out the dinosaurs because that asteroid was 12 kilometers wide.
The asteroid passing by today is being referred to as a “mini-moon” because it bears some resemblance to the moon. Experts suggest that this 10-meter-plus asteroid will come close enough to Earth for its gravity to hold it in orbit. This process will begin at the end of September, and by mid-November, the asteroid will leave Earth’s orbit. Due to its orbit around Earth, it is being called a “mini-moon.”
