A series of relatively large asteroids will pass close to Earth throughout 2021. These asteroids are classified as Potential Hazardous Objects (PHOs).
Asteroids are celestial bodies that invite the attention of many parties to identify from the material, its movement in space, to the origin of the asteroid. But behind that, asteroids have the potential to threaten human safety on earth. Based on historical records, an asteroid impact millions of years ago has been a major factor in the disappearance of the dinosaur civilization. Therefore, experts continue to monitor asteroids. NASA admits that there are no asteroids that threaten Earth yet. So far, asteroids have only crossed Earth's orbit and are millions of kilometers away from Earth. Here's a list of asteroids that have crossed Earth's orbit throughout 2021.
1. Asteroid 2003 SD220
This asteroid is predicted to approach Earth in mid-December, as noted by NASA's asteroid tracker. The celestial body has a diameter of about 791 meters. The asteroid is almost the size of the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, the tallest building on Earth. The asteroid will fly past Earth on December 17, 2021, at a distance of about 5.4 million kilometers from Earth at a speed of 5.6 kilometers per second.
2. Asteroid 2021 UA1
At the end of last October an asteroid named 2021 UA1 passed at a very close distance to Earth, only about 3000 kilometers. The celestial body is the size of a refrigerator, approximately 2 meters in size. The United States Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) was surprised because the asteroid that passed very close to Earth was not detected. In fact, NASA always observes all asteroids that have the potential to hit Earth. This incident escaped NASA's observation because the asteroid, named 2021 UA1, came from the direction of the Sun, making it difficult to observe.
3. 4 Giant Asteroids Approach Earth
In September 2021, an asteroid named 2021RE is expected to pass at a speed of 48,280 kilometers per hour, which could cause considerable damage if it hits Earth. In addition, an asteroid with the code name 2010 RJ53 also passed close to Earth. Asteroid 2010 RJ53 measures 774 meters, and is estimated to have passed at a distance of 366,000 kilometers from Earth, a distance that is closer than the distance from the Moon to Earth. Next up is asteroid 2021 PT which passes on September 11. This asteroid is the same size as 2021RE, which is 137 meters. It is expected to pass at a distance of 4.9 million kilometers from Earth.
The third asteroid to approach Earth is 2021 NY1. This asteroid passed on September 22.JPL NASA stated this asteroid is quite dangerous. Asteroid 2021NY1 is also categorized as a NEO (near-Earth object), because it passes very close to Earth at a distance of about 1,498,113 kilometers, or 0.01 astronomical units (1 astronomical unit equals 150 million kilometers).
4. Asteroid 2008Go20
An asteroid three times the size of the Taj Mahal passed Earth on July 24. The asteroid was traveling at a speed of more than 8 kilometers per second, which is about 28,800 kilometers per hour. This near-Earth object or NEO has a diameter of about 220 meters, and passes 4.7 million kilometers from Earth. For comparison, the distance between the Earth and the Moon is 384,400 kilometers.
5. Asteroid 2021 GW4
An asteroid the size of a car flew with a distance that almost hit Earth, last April. The asteroid, named 2021 GW4, is 14 feet or approximately 4 meters in diameter. The asteroid is about 16,300 miles or 26,200 kilometers away from Earth.
That's less than a tenth of the distance between Earth and the Moon, close enough for an asteroid where the distance between Earth and Moon is 384,400 kilometers.
6. Asteroid 2001 FO32
In March NASA reported that asteroid 2001 FO32 would pass at a speed of 77,000 miles per hour or the equivalent of 123,919 kilometers per hour. Faster than the speed of other asteroids passing through Earth. Asteroid 2001 FO32 passed a distance of 2 million kilometers from Earth. This distance is equivalent to 5 and a quarter times the distance from Earth to the Moon. This largest asteroid has a diameter of about 3,000 feet or about 914 meters
7. Asteroid 2020 TB12
NASA reported that a giant asteroid passed close to Earth on February 1, 2021. The asteroid is twice the length of a Boeing 747 airplane or has a length of 145 meters. NASA recorded the asteroid streaking through the solar system at a speed of 8.9 kilometers per second or more than 32,000 kilometers per hour. NASA JPL has classified 2020 TB12 as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid" due to its predicted close proximity to Earth.
8. Asteroid 2021 FO32
In January, an asteroid the size of the Golden Gate Bridge passed near Earth at a speed of 4.4 kilometers per second. The asteroid, named 2001 FO32, has a diameter of 0.6 miles or 1 kilometer. Several things are considered interesting in the phenomenon of the passing of this asteroid, one of which is the asteroid tail resembling a slow-moving star. Usually this phenomenon lasts 5 to 10 minutes. Asteroid FO32 will pass Earth at such a fast speed that it will be visible only with a telescope that is at least 8 inches in size.
You must be logged in to post a comment.