New Delhi:
NASA is tracking five asteroids that are currently headed for Earth. Our planet has often been in the firing line of fragments of asteroids from the last several months. Just when we take a sigh of relief at not being affected by a predicted hit, reports start coming in from all corners warning us of other deadly asteroids that are capable enough to destroy the planet, may perform fly-bys or will hit us in near future.
According to NASA’s Centre for Near Earth Object Studies (CNEOS), asteroid dubbed as 523934 (1998 FF14) is approaching towards Earth. The asteroid has a diameter of about 1,410 feet. And is traveling at a speed of almost 50,000 miles per hour.
The second asteroid that will fly past Earth is called 2019 SW1. The asteroid is moving at a speed of 28,300 miles per hour and has an estimated diameter of 69 feet. CNEOS predicted that 2019 SW1 will approach Earth on September 24.
Also Read: Asteroid Terror: A 3,248-Feet Space Rock Dangerously Approaching Earth, Will It Collide With Earth?
Third asteroid called as 2019 QY3 will fly past Earth on September 26. It will be 0.03566 astronomical units or about 3.3 million miles away from Earth.
The fourth asteroid has been dubbed as 2017 KP27. This asteroid is traveling at speed of about 10,500 miles per hour and is estimated to be about 135 feet long.
The fifth asteroid to fly past Earth is called 2006 QV89. Flying at a speed of 9,200 miles per hour the asteroid is about 170 feet long.
Although probability is less, if any of these five asteroids strike the Earth then humans may extinct from the Earth. It is really unfortunate that so far we do not have any weapon to destroy those asteroids, neither we have any other means to save ourselves.
Asteroid impact avoidance comprises a number of methods by which near-Earth objects (NEO) could be diverted, preventing destructive impact events. A sufficiently large impact by an asteroid or other NEOs would cause, depending on its impact location, massive tsunamis, multiple firestorms and an impact winter caused by the sunlight-blocking effect of placing large quantities of pulverized rock dust, and other debris, into the stratosphere.
According to expert testimony in the United States Congress in 2013, NASA would require at least five years of preparation before a mission to intercept an asteroid could be launched.
