An asteroid heading towards Earth has been deemed potentially hazardous by the US space agency NASA. While a large number of asteroids pass by the Earth very far, there are many asteroids that come too close to the planet and then they are considered dangerous objects. The whole process was dictated by the asteroid’s size as well as its close approach to Earth, and that’s what happens to asteroids today.
To identify a potential threat from an asteroid or near-Earth object, NASA closely monitors all upcoming objects such as asteroids and even comet. Now, asteroid 2022 XD has been detected approaching Earth. It’s a 40-foot asteroid, but it’ll make a terrifying approach of just 0.842 million miles! NASA says that any asteroid that comes within 4.6 million miles or 7.5 million kilometers of Earth will be marked as potentially hazardous.
This asteroid is also moving at an amazing speed of 24959 km/h.
How NASA tracks these things small planet
Some of NASA’s best technology helps track these dangerous asteroids. Using optical and radio telescopes, NASA determines the size, shape, rotation, and material composition of the asteroids. In addition, with the help of planetary radar, conducted by radio telescopes at NASA’s Deep Space Network and the National Science Foundation’s Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico, the feature data are detailed. details of asteroids was possible.
How NASA plans to keep The earth safe from these asteroids
NASA recently successfully concluded the Dual Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) Mission by colliding the spacecraft with a non-hazardous asteroid. It has successfully managed to change the direction of the asteroid. The knowledge gained from the mission will be used to protect Earth from dangerous asteroids that are likely to collide with our planet. This is the world’s first mission to deflect an asteroid in space.
