The asteroid will pass through Earth on May 27 (NASA)
A vast asteroid up to a mile wide will pass through our planet at 47,000 mph on May 27, according to NASA asteroid detection experts.
The space rock, known as 7335 (1989 JA) will not pass especially close to Earth; the nearest is 2.5 million miles, 10 times the distance between the Earth and the Moon.
NASA says it is the largest asteroid to approach Earth this year.
The asteroid, first detected in 1989, is described as “the size of a bridge” by NASA and will pass safely on Earth on Friday.
The Virtual Telescope project said: “This 1.8 km large asteroid reaches its minimum distance (about 4 million km, almost 10.5 times the average lunar distance) from us on May 27, 2022, at 14:26 UTC Of course, there is no risk to our planet. ”
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The asteroid is an asteroid Apollo, with orbits that cross the Earth.
Asteroids have a relatively short lifespan, due to their potential to collide with inner planets, and more than 1,600 are known.
NASA has already taken steps toward a real solution if an asteroid goes to Earth: a mission to launch possible doomsday asteroids into less threatening flight paths.
The Double Asteroid Redirection (DART) test was launched late last year with a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.
The idea is that a refrigerator-sized DART spacecraft will hit the asteroid faster than a bullet and change its orbit.
In its test mission, DART will affect a known asteroid that is not a threat to Earth.
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Its goal is to slightly change the motion of the asteroid in a way that can be accurately measured using ground-based telescopes.
DART will show that a spacecraft can navigate autonomously to a target asteroid and intentionally collide with it, a method of deflection called kinetic impact.
The test will provide important data to help you better prepare for an asteroid that could pose an impact to Earth if it were ever discovered. “DART is turning science fiction into science fiction and is a testament to NASA’s proactivity and innovation for the benefit of all,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson.
“In addition to all the ways NASA is studying our universe and our home planet, we’re also working to protect this home, and this test will help demonstrate a viable way to protect our planet from a dangerous asteroid. if it is never discovered, it goes to Earth.
Look, the launch of the DART spacecraft illuminates the night sky