An asteroid the size of the Eiffel Tower will come very close to Earth within the next 11 hours. Know what NASA has to say about it.
There are several asteroids that appear close to Earth every week. However, space scientists have warned of a giant asteroid that will pass by Earth in the early hours of May 16. According to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the asteroid The near-Earth planet, named Asteroid 388945 (2008 TZ3), is estimated to be up to 960 feet (292.8 m) in diameter and will make a close approach to our planet at 2:48 a.m. on May 16. This structure is said to be about the same size as the Eiffel Tower 300 meters high. So, does this massive asteroid pose a risk to Earth?
An asteroid the size of an Eiffel Tower hit the Earth?
Looking at the huge size of the asteroid, it can certainly cause huge damage if it hits the Earth. But the good news is that the estimated approach distance between the asteroid and Earth is quite large. According to NASA, this asteroid will pass by Earth from a distance of about 5,740,000 km. Then why did NASA mark it as a ‘close approach’? Because, the number seems large, but astronomically, it is quite small.
You will be surprised to know that this is not the first time that asteroid 388945 (2008 TZ3) has come close to Earth. The last time the asteroid passed close to Earth was in May 2020, at a distance of just 1.7 million miles. However, scientists revealed, this near-Earth object regularly passes through the Earth, every two years as it orbits the Sun. Even so, it is not expected to make such a close approach to Earth until May 2163.
In addition, despite its enormous size, fortunately this asteroid is not classified as “potentially dangerous” by NASA.
Well, even if an asteroid causes any harm to Earth, several space agencies, including NASA, are planning strategies to protect the planet from possible catastrophe. similar to what dinosaurs went through. Recently, NASA launched the Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission, which aims to deflect an asteroid from its path “through kinematics”. In fact, NASA will crash a spacecraft into the asteroid and see what impact it has.
