New Delhi:
An asteroid called 2000 QW7, almost the size of Burj Khalifa, is approaching towards the Earth, and likely to pass the planet at a speed of 23,112 kilometres per hour on September 14, according to reports. The space rock, measuring between 290 and 650 metres, is larger than The Shard in London. Currently, the NASA's Centre for Near Earth Object Studies is monitoring its activities.
Reports, however, suggest that 2000 QW7 will not be a danger to the Earth as the asteroid will pass within 0.03564 astronomical units of the Earth - or 5.3 million km away from the surface.
Space materials are considered near-Earth objects if they pass within 1.3 astronomical units of Earth. An astronomical unit is the distance from Earth to the sun, or 149.6 million km.
Meanwhile, the Earth is going to have yet another close encounter with a giant asteroid. On August 26, 2019, asteroid 2016 PD1 will come extremely close to the Earth. The asteroid 2016 PD1, however, will not hit the Earth and we are safe. It is to be noted that asteroids are small, rocky objects that orbit the Sun. The space rocks (asteroids) approach towards the Earth due to the gravitational forces that affect them.
Asteroids can bring tsunamis, shock waves and flattening winds that could be catastrophic. It is worth mentioning here that in recent times, many giant asteroids including 2019 OK, 2019 OD, 2015 HM10, 2019 OE, 2019 NN3, 2019 MB4, 2019 MT2, 2006 QV89, 2016 NO56M, RF12 and others approached towards the Earth, fortunately did not hit our planet.
Also Read: Asteroid Ryugu’s surface looks exactly like rocks from meteorites that crashed Earth: View PICS
Coming back to the asteroid 2016 PD1, the 361-feet space rock will fly past the Earth on August 26, 2019 at 7:07 am (ST). The giant space rock is traveling at a speed of 13,100 miles per hour. It will zip past the Earth from a distance of 0.02925 astronomical units or about 2.7 million miles away.
