NASA is on alert as 140-foot giant asteroid zooms towards Earth. Is it threatening our planet?
Representational image of asteroids.
A massive 140-foot-wide asteroid, which is called 2007 RX8, is set to make its closest approach to Earth on September 2.
The asteroid, which is travelling at a shooting speed of 25,142 km/h, is an Apollo asteroid and will fly past Earth at a speed which will be almost equal to the launch of a rocket.
On September 2, this massive asteroid will be at its closest distance to our planet at 10:23 UTC.
Also Read:NASA issues sudden alert as massive house-sized asteroid hurtles towards Earth at scary speed
Apollo asteroids are a kind of near-Earth object with orbits which can cross the path of the Earth around the Sun.
These asteroids, which have been named after the Apollo group, have the kind of trajectories which bring them close to Earth. However, the Apollo asteroids need to be carefully monitored to ensure there are no potential risks.
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What will happen if asteroid 2007 RX8 hits Earth?
If an asteroid like 2007 RX8 hits the Earth, the results will be massive based on the size of the asteroid.
If there is a large impact, it can cause significant damage, which includes environmental disturbances and explosions.
However, asteroid 2007 RX8 will pass by Earth without being in any danger because its current trajectory is not intersecting with the orbit of the Earth.
During its closest approach, the asteroid 2007 RX8 will be within 7 million kilometres of Earth.
How is NASA tracking asteroids?
NASA, along with other space agencies, has established a network of telescopes and advanced computing for identifying near-Earth objects (NEOs).
Watch:China plans nukes against asteroids
Even though many of the NEOs don't come very close to Earth, some of them do come at a scary distance and get tagged as potentially hazardous asteroids which need more attention.
Such asteroids are more than 460 feet (140 metres) in size and their orbits bring them within a distance of 7.5 million kilometres from Earth.
NASA's Centre for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) has been monitoring all the NEOs and looking for any potential impact risks.
(With inputs from agencies)