NASA Warns of Five Asteroids Set to Pass by Earth This Week
The United States Space Administration (NASA) has issued a warning that five asteroids are set to “pass by” the Earth this week, with one of them being the size of a stadium. The near-Earth asteroids will come within a distance of less than 2 million miles from our planet, raising concerns about a potential collision.
One of the asteroids, named “2008 OS7”, is of particular concern as it is expected to be closest to the Earth on February 2. Measuring about 890 feet in diameter, this space rock was first discovered in 2008 and is predicted to come as close as 1.77 million miles away from the Earth. Another asteroid, “2024 AU4”, is also expected to pass by on February 4, at a distance of 3.92 million miles.
According to NASA’s classification, these near-Earth objects fall under the category of “Potentially Hazardous Objects” (PHOs), which are defined as asteroids and comets with a diameter of more than 500 feet and less than 4.7 million miles from the Earth. Despite the concern, NASA assures that the majority of these objects do not pose a significant risk of impact, although they require close monitoring.
In light of these developments, experts and astronomers are closely monitoring the trajectories of these asteroids to assess any potential threat to the Earth. While the chances of a collision remain slim, the close proximity of these space rocks is unprecedented and has raised eyebrows in the scientific community.
As the world keeps a watchful eye on these passing asteroids, NASA emphasizes the need for continued monitoring and vigilance, especially when it comes to potentially hazardous objects. The agency also reaffirms its commitment to safeguarding the Earth from any potential threats from outer space.