NASA has said that there are currently four asteroids that are coming towards Earth with frightening speed. Some of them are travelling&nbsp;at the speed of hypersonic ballistic missiles, but few of them will not hit the earth and go flying past it, as reported by NASA.&nbsp;

Asteroids are basically the minor planets of the inner solar system and have rocky, icy, or metallic bodies with no atmosphere. Though most of the&nbsp;asteroids look the same, their shapes and size vary significantly, ranging from 1 million rocks to a dwarf planet of almost 1000km in diameter. One such&nbsp;asteroid has already been seen flying over Earth&nbsp;in Canada recently.

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~1-m space object - temporary designation <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/C8FF042?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#C8FF042</a> - strikes Earth over Canada, creating stunning <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/fireball?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#fireball</a>☄️ 
 
For only the 6th time in history, this impact was predicted. 
 
Find out more about predicting <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/asteroid?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#asteroid</a> impacts from the last time this happened 👉<a href="https://t.co/zwPKXeUEUl">https://t.co/zwPKXeUEUl</a> <a href="https://t.co/XbDqtiDuom">https://t.co/XbDqtiDuom</a> <a href="https://t.co/5yHGWibSki">pic.twitter.com/5yHGWibSki</a>
— ESA Operations (@esaoperations) <a href="https://twitter.com/esaoperations/status/1593912958509367296?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 19, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Here is the information about four&nbsp;asteroids barrelling toward earth:&nbsp;

<h2>1. Asteroid 2005 LW3</h2>

This is the largest asteroid of them all and also the first one to be discovered by NASA. NASA's Planetary Defense Coordination Office has issued an&nbsp;alert against this huge asteroid named Asteroid 2005 LW3. It will make its closest approach to Earth on 23 November at a distance of just 1.1 million kilometres away from earth. This asteroid is colossal with its size ranging anywhere between 426 feet to 918 feet. NASA has warned that the space rock is already&nbsp;on its way toward the planet, travelling at the speed of 48580 kilometres per hour.

<h2>2. Asteroid 2022 WS2</h2>

This asteroid was red-flagged by NASA due to its extremely close approach to earth. The asteroid, with a size ranging between 39 feet and 88 feet, will be making its closest approach to Earth on 23rd November as well. It will be at a distance of 3 million kilometres from Earth, travelling&nbsp;at a speed of 42039 kilometres per hour.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywiT-_Iby_A">Gravitas: NASA to send a mission to 'golden' asteroid</a>

<h2>3. Asteroid 2022 WR2</h2>

This other asteroid will also come extremely close to Earth on 23rd November. Its close approach will bring it within just 3.5 kilometres of Earth. The asteroid is already on its way toward Earth, travelling at an astounding speed of 27629 kilometres per hour. Fortunately, this asteroid is quite small and will not be of harm&nbsp;even if it hits the Earth.&nbsp;

<h2>4. Asteroid 2022 WL2&nbsp;</h2>

This is this week's fourth asteroid that might hit the surface of the earth. It has a size ranging between 29 feet and 65 feet. It will make its closest appearance to Earth on 23rd November, at a distance of 2.2 million kilometres. It is coming down towards earth with a lightening speed of 28980 kilometres per hour, which is twice the speed of a hypersonic ballistic missile.

NASA has said that there are currently four asteroids that are coming towards Earth with frightening speed. Some of them are travelling at the speed of hypersonic ballistic missiles, but few of them will not hit the earth and go flying past it, as reported by NASA.

NASA has said that there are currently four asteroids that are coming towards Earth with frightening speed. Some of them are travelling at the speed of hypersonic ballistic missiles, but few of them will not hit the earth and go flying past it, as reported by NASA. Asteroids are basically the minor planets of the inner solar system and have rocky, icy, or metallic bodies with no atmosphere. Though most of the asteroids look the same, their shapes and size vary significantly, ranging from 1 million rocks to a dwarf planet of almost 1000km in diameter. One such asteroid has already been seen flying over Earth in Canada recently. ~1-m space object - temporary designation #C8FF042 - strikes Earth over Canada, creating stunning #fireball☄️ For only the 6th time in history, this impact was predicted. Find out more about predicting #asteroid impacts from the last time this happened 👉https://t.co/zwPKXeUEUl https://t.co/XbDqtiDuom pic.twitter.com/5yHGWibSki — ESA Operations (@esaoperations) November 19, 2022 × Here is the information about four asteroids barrelling toward earth: 1. Asteroid 2005 LW3 This is the largest asteroid of them all and also the first one to be discovered by NASA. NASA's Planetary Defense Coordination Office has issued an alert against this huge asteroid named Asteroid 2005 LW3. It will make its closest approach to Earth on 23 November at a distance of just 1.1 million kilometres away from earth. This asteroid is colossal with its size ranging anywhere between 426 feet to 918 feet. NASA has warned that the space rock is already on its way toward the planet, travelling at the speed of 48580 kilometres per hour. 2. Asteroid 2022 WS2 This asteroid was red-flagged by NASA due to its extremely close approach to earth. The asteroid, with a size ranging between 39 feet and 88 feet, will be making its closest approach to Earth on 23rd November as well. It will be at a distance of 3 million kilometres from Earth, travelling at a speed of 42039 kilometres per hour. Watch | Gravitas: NASA to send a mission to 'golden' asteroid 3. Asteroid 2022 WR2 This other asteroid will also come extremely close to Earth on 23rd November. Its close approach will bring it within just 3.5 kilometres of Earth. The asteroid is already on its way toward Earth, travelling at an astounding speed of 27629 kilometres per hour. Fortunately, this asteroid is quite small and will not be of harm even if it hits the Earth. 4. Asteroid 2022 WL2 This is this week's fourth asteroid that might hit the surface of the earth. It has a size ranging between 29 feet and 65 feet. It will make its closest appearance to Earth on 23rd November, at a distance of 2.2 million kilometres. It is coming down towards earth with a lightening speed of 28980 kilometres per hour, which is twice the speed of a hypersonic ballistic missile.

Four dangerous asteroids whirling towards earth that might hit today, tells NASA

One day, astronomers may spot an asteroid months away from a cataclysmic rendezvous with Earth. Our only chance of survival at such a late stage would be to try to use a nuclear explosive to obliterate it.

But would it work?

Unlike some melodramatic Hollywood blockbusters of the 1990s, real-life scientists are largely unconcerned by any planet-sterilizing behemoths. The orbits of almost every asteroid two-thirds of a mile across or larger have been precisely mapped out. “We know they’re not going to be a threat anytime soon,” said Megan Bruck Syal, a planetary defence researcher at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/eight-massive-asteroids-bigger-than-pyramids-to-approach-earth-in-october-november-420486">Eight massive asteroids, bigger than pyramids, to approach Earth in October-November</a>

Instead, their focus is on relatively small asteroids, those about the size of football stadiums, notable for their abundance as well as their ability to evade asteroid-hunting observatories. “Those are the ones that we tend to worry more about because they could come out of nowhere,” Bruck Syal said.

Such a diminutive asteroid may not sound like much of a danger compared to the 6.2-mile colossus that slammed into Earth 66 million years ago with apocalyptic results. But a meteor that exploded over Siberia in 1908 was only about 200 feet across — and the blast’s shock wave levelled 800 square miles of forest. “That’s the size of the whole Washington D.C. Metro area,” said Bruck Syal.

Using high-fidelity simulations, scientists reported in a study published this month that a stealthy asteroid as long as 330 feet could be annihilated by a 1-megaton nuclear device, with 99.9% of its mass being blasted out of Earth’s way, if the asteroid is attacked at least two months before impact.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/why-nasa-is-launching-a-robotic-archaeologist-named-lucy-421079">Why NASA is launching a robotic archaeologist named Lucy</a>

Ideally, asteroids targeting our blue marble would be identified decades ahead of time. If so, the hope is that an uncrewed spacecraft could slam into them with sufficient momentum to nudge them out of Earth’s way. This strategy, known as deflection, is getting its first test next year with NASA’s Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) space mission.

But an asteroid even several years away from Earth may not be suitable for deflection. At that stage, it may be too late to sufficiently alter its trajectory with a nudge. And if any deflection attempt proves overzealous, the asteroid may break up into smaller but still portly pieces that could hit Earth in multiple spots.

Using a nuclear blast to obliterate an interplanetary interloper “will always be the last resort,” said Patrick Michel, an asteroid expert at the Observatoire de la Côte d’Azur who was not involved in the study. But if we are short on time, it may be our only hope.

Also read |&nbsp;​​​​​​​<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/lucy-in-the-sky-nasa-space-mission-lifts-off-will-study-jupiters-trojan-asteroids-421268">'Lucy in the sky': NASA space mission lifts off, will study Jupiter's Trojan asteroids</a>

A team led by Patrick King, a physicist at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, ran 3D simulations to see whether a nuke could provide planetary salvation. Like a wannabe Marco Inaros, a villain from the science fiction series “The Expanse” who schemed to bombard Earth from space, he hurled virtual 330-foot asteroids at our planet along five different orbital paths.

Powerful 1-megaton nuclear devices were sent to greet them.

The simulations showed that when the detonation took place two months or more ahead of the projected impact date, it was sufficient to ensure that almost every asteroid fragment that survived the blast missed Earth. Any fragments that did reach Earth would probably be small enough to burn up in the atmosphere, said Bruck Syal, a study co-author.

This strategy isn’t foolproof. “If you miscalculate the energy you need to destroy it, you may make a lot of fragments,” Michel said — and some may be sizable enough to impact Earth with considerable violence.

Nobody wants to wait until the last moment to see if a nuclear Hail Mary saves the world. But one day humanity may have no choice: NASA estimates that there are 17,000 near-Earth asteroids 460 feet or larger that are yet to be found.

To reduce the odds of an asteroid ambush, scientists are being proactive. A future NASA space telescope aims to spot two-thirds of those miniature menaces. Its hopeful success will come as a relief to planetary defence officers who, perhaps more than anyone else, don’t wanna miss a thing.

One day, astronomers may spot an asteroid months away from a cataclysmic rendezvous with Earth. Our only chance of survival at such a late stage would be to try to use a nuclear explosive to obliterate it.

One day, astronomers may spot an asteroid months away from a cataclysmic rendezvous with Earth. Our only chance of survival at such a late stage would be to try to use a nuclear explosive to obliterate it. But would it work? Unlike some melodramatic Hollywood blockbusters of the 1990s, real-life scientists are largely unconcerned by any planet-sterilizing behemoths. The orbits of almost every asteroid two-thirds of a mile across or larger have been precisely mapped out. “We know they’re not going to be a threat anytime soon,” said Megan Bruck Syal, a planetary defence researcher at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Also read | Eight massive asteroids, bigger than pyramids, to approach Earth in October-November Instead, their focus is on relatively small asteroids, those about the size of football stadiums, notable for their abundance as well as their ability to evade asteroid-hunting observatories. “Those are the ones that we tend to worry more about because they could come out of nowhere,” Bruck Syal said. Such a diminutive asteroid may not sound like much of a danger compared to the 6.2-mile colossus that slammed into Earth 66 million years ago with apocalyptic results. But a meteor that exploded over Siberia in 1908 was only about 200 feet across — and the blast’s shock wave levelled 800 square miles of forest. “That’s the size of the whole Washington D.C. Metro area,” said Bruck Syal. Using high-fidelity simulations, scientists reported in a study published this month that a stealthy asteroid as long as 330 feet could be annihilated by a 1-megaton nuclear device, with 99.9% of its mass being blasted out of Earth’s way, if the asteroid is attacked at least two months before impact. Also read | Why NASA is launching a robotic archaeologist named Lucy Ideally, asteroids targeting our blue marble would be identified decades ahead of time. If so, the hope is that an uncrewed spacecraft could slam into them with sufficient momentum to nudge them out of Earth’s way. This strategy, known as deflection, is getting its first test next year with NASA’s Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) space mission. But an asteroid even several years away from Earth may not be suitable for deflection. At that stage, it may be too late to sufficiently alter its trajectory with a nudge. And if any deflection attempt proves overzealous, the asteroid may break up into smaller but still portly pieces that could hit Earth in multiple spots. Using a nuclear blast to obliterate an interplanetary interloper “will always be the last resort,” said Patrick Michel, an asteroid expert at the Observatoire de la Côte d’Azur who was not involved in the study. But if we are short on time, it may be our only hope. Also read | 'Lucy in the sky': NASA space mission lifts off, will study Jupiter's Trojan asteroids A team led by Patrick King, a physicist at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, ran 3D simulations to see whether a nuke could provide planetary salvation. Like a wannabe Marco Inaros, a villain from the science fiction series “The Expanse” who schemed to bombard Earth from space, he hurled virtual 330-foot asteroids at our planet along five different orbital paths. Powerful 1-megaton nuclear devices were sent to greet them. The simulations showed that when the detonation took place two months or more ahead of the projected impact date, it was sufficient to ensure that almost every asteroid fragment that survived the blast missed Earth. Any fragments that did reach Earth would probably be small enough to burn up in the atmosphere, said Bruck Syal, a study co-author. This strategy isn’t foolproof. “If you miscalculate the energy you need to destroy it, you may make a lot of fragments,” Michel said — and some may be sizable enough to impact Earth with considerable violence. Nobody wants to wait until the last moment to see if a nuclear Hail Mary saves the world. But one day humanity may have no choice: NASA estimates that there are 17,000 near-Earth asteroids 460 feet or larger that are yet to be found. To reduce the odds of an asteroid ambush, scientists are being proactive. A future NASA space telescope aims to spot two-thirds of those miniature menaces. Its hopeful success will come as a relief to planetary defence officers who, perhaps more than anyone else, don’t wanna miss a thing.

How a nuclear bomb could save Earth from a stealthy asteroid

June 30 is observed&nbsp;as the annual Asteroid Day, marking the anniversary of most dangerous asteroid-related event to happen on Earth in the planet’s known history - the Tunguska impact over Siberia.

Asteroid Day aims to spread awareness about the dangers posed by cosmic entities to Earth and ways to protect the planet, its inhabitants, as well as to mitigate potential disaster events in the future.

The history of Asteroid Day

Co-founded by late genius Stephen Hawking and a varied pool of personalities like filmmaker Grigorij Richets and Queen’s guitarist Brian May, the declaration was signed by 200 astronauts, scientists, and artists including engineer and part-time TV presenter Bill Nye and the evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins.

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Officially known as the “100X Declaration”, the instrument has received 22,000 signatures from private citizens, all of whom are not necessarily specialists.&nbsp;The declaration calls for improving the discovery rate of asteroids to 100,000 per year, hoping to achieve&nbsp;a 100-fold increase over the next decade.

What are asteroids?

Asteroids are minor planets situated in the inner solar system. Large asteroids are sometimes called “planetoids”.&nbsp;

There are millions of asteroids in our solar system that hail from violent events in our solar system and bodies that never grew large enough to become planets. Most asteroids can be located between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter.

<img alt="asteroid" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="9d848f64-2f66-429b-8294-a401555da09a" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/2_56.jpg" />

Composed mainly of minerals and rocks, asteroids are often confused with comets, which are made of dust and ice. Owing the proximity to our Sun, asteroids lack any comet-like characteristics. To be classified as an asteroid, objects need to have a diameter larger than one metre.&nbsp;

The Tunguska event

On June 30, 1908 an explosion of celestial proportions took place near the Podkamennaya Tunguska River in Yeniseysk Governorate (now known as Krasnoyarsk Krai) in Russia. Due to its historical significance, June 30 is vastly known for the “Tunguska Event”.

In the aftermath of the explosion in the eastern Siberian Taiga, over 80 million trees spread across 2,150 square kilometres (830 square miles) of forest were flattened. According to archival eyewitness records, at least three people may have died in the event, although it's impossible to ascertain the real number.

<img alt="asteroid" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="fdb0baba-bd78-4d3f-8ee7-fdbabfcd6d0c" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/3_45.jpg" />

Even though no impact crater was found, scientists remain confident that the disaster was caused by a stony object measuring upto 100 metres (330 feet), which is believed to have disintegrated at an altitude of 5-10 kilometres instead of directly hitting the Earth's surface.

Dangers posed by asteroids

According to B612 Foundation, which is a non-profit dedicated to planetary science especially on defence mechanisms against other objects in space, it’s certain that at some point in Earth’s life-cycle, it would be hit by an asteroid, but the foundation claims it’s still unsure when such a catastrophe would strike.&nbsp;

In his final book, Stephen Hawking had also referred to an asteroid collision as the biggest threat to planet Earth.&nbsp;

Major countries of the world are ill-prepared to tackle a potential collision. In a US Congress testimony in 2013, it was revealed that NASA would require almost five years of time to launch any mission requiring interception of an asteroid.&nbsp;

(Images: Wikimedia Commons)

June 30 is observed as the annual Asteroid Day, marking the anniversary of most dangerous asteroid-related event to happen on Earth in the planet’s known history - the Tunguska impact over Siberia.

June 30 is observed as the annual Asteroid Day, marking the anniversary of most dangerous asteroid-related event to happen on Earth in the planet’s known history - the Tunguska impact over Siberia. Asteroid Day aims to spread awareness about the dangers posed by cosmic entities to Earth and ways to protect the planet, its inhabitants, as well as to mitigate potential disaster events in the future. The history of Asteroid Day Co-founded by late genius Stephen Hawking and a varied pool of personalities like filmmaker Grigorij Richets and Queen’s guitarist Brian May, the declaration was signed by 200 astronauts, scientists, and artists including engineer and part-time TV presenter Bill Nye and the evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins. Officially known as the “100X Declaration”, the instrument has received 22,000 signatures from private citizens, all of whom are not necessarily specialists. The declaration calls for improving the discovery rate of asteroids to 100,000 per year, hoping to achieve a 100-fold increase over the next decade. What are asteroids? Asteroids are minor planets situated in the inner solar system. Large asteroids are sometimes called “planetoids”. There are millions of asteroids in our solar system that hail from violent events in our solar system and bodies that never grew large enough to become planets. Most asteroids can be located between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. Composed mainly of minerals and rocks, asteroids are often confused with comets, which are made of dust and ice. Owing the proximity to our Sun, asteroids lack any comet-like characteristics. To be classified as an asteroid, objects need to have a diameter larger than one metre. The Tunguska event On June 30, 1908 an explosion of celestial proportions took place near the Podkamennaya Tunguska River in Yeniseysk Governorate (now known as Krasnoyarsk Krai) in Russia. Due to its historical significance, June 30 is vastly known for the “Tunguska Event”. In the aftermath of the explosion in the eastern Siberian Taiga, over 80 million trees spread across 2,150 square kilometres (830 square miles) of forest were flattened. According to archival eyewitness records, at least three people may have died in the event, although it's impossible to ascertain the real number. Even though no impact crater was found, scientists remain confident that the disaster was caused by a stony object measuring upto 100 metres (330 feet), which is believed to have disintegrated at an altitude of 5-10 kilometres instead of directly hitting the Earth's surface. Dangers posed by asteroids According to B612 Foundation, which is a non-profit dedicated to planetary science especially on defence mechanisms against other objects in space, it’s certain that at some point in Earth’s life-cycle, it would be hit by an asteroid, but the foundation claims it’s still unsure when such a catastrophe would strike. In his final book, Stephen Hawking had also referred to an asteroid collision as the biggest threat to planet Earth. Major countries of the world are ill-prepared to tackle a potential collision. In a US Congress testimony in 2013, it was revealed that NASA would require almost five years of time to launch any mission requiring interception of an asteroid. (Images: Wikimedia Commons)

World Asteroid Day 2021: How prepared are we for a dangerous collision?

A few years back, the beautiful country of Botswana in Southern Africa was impacted by asteroid debris. After more than two years, scientists have finally concluded the questions surrounding the origin of that debris.

The analysis proved out to be tough for scientists because they had to rely largely on video and picture evidence to examine rock samples due as the observations had been picked up a little after the debris had come in contact with the Earth.

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This incident that took place in the Kalahari Desert in Botswana on June 02, 2018, was being studied by researchers at the Meteoritics and Planetary Science.

As per the researchers, the debris belongs to Vesta, which is one of the largest objects in our solar system and is believed to be the second-largest space rock in the asteroid belt.

The origin of the rock that shook the Botswana farm is believed to be nearly 22 million years ago. It is believed it was formed after Vesta collided with another space body roughly 22 million years ago which led to the formation of a larger family of debris — some of which landed on the Earth.

A few years back, the beautiful country of Botswana in Southern Africa was impacted by asteroid debris. After more than two years, scientists have finally concluded the questions surrounding the origin of that debris.

A few years back, the beautiful country of Botswana in Southern Africa was impacted by asteroid debris. After more than two years, scientists have finally concluded the questions surrounding the origin of that debris. The analysis proved out to be tough for scientists because they had to rely largely on video and picture evidence to examine rock samples due as the observations had been picked up a little after the debris had come in contact with the Earth. × This incident that took place in the Kalahari Desert in Botswana on June 02, 2018, was being studied by researchers at the Meteoritics and Planetary Science. As per the researchers, the debris belongs to Vesta, which is one of the largest objects in our solar system and is believed to be the second-largest space rock in the asteroid belt. The origin of the rock that shook the Botswana farm is believed to be nearly 22 million years ago. It is believed it was formed after Vesta collided with another space body roughly 22 million years ago which led to the formation of a larger family of debris — some of which landed on the Earth.

Asteroid that hit Botswana in 2018 was 22 million years old: Researchers

It may be just another day for us here on Earth. We may get up and go about as if nothing is going to happen. But ask those Dinosaurs who were out on the day an asteroid struck Earth.

Well, you can't of course because all of them are dead (along with around 75 per cent of life at that time on the planet).

This is what happens when a huge space rock decides that it is tired of travelling through space and wants to 'settle down' on the cosy planet we call Earth.

Asteroids may be small compared to size of the Earth but they can cause massive destruction owing to their very high speeds.

And this is why NASA and other space agencies around the world keep close watch on any rogue rocks that may be coming our way, or at least make a close call.

And one such asteroid has been detected. The asteroid has been named 2020 XU6. And it will reach its closest point from Earth today (February 22).

2020 XU6 is the size of a 'stadium'. For perspective, Statue of Liberty will fall short if it tries to compete with the asteroid to check who was taller. Even Big Ben would not be able to win.

The asteroid in 700 feet across (213 m). It is coming closer to Earth indeed.

But we need not fret about extinction of humans just yet because it will miss the Earth by 4,087,734 km (2,540,000 m)&nbsp;

You can safely go about your day now.

It may be just another day for us here on Earth. We may get up and go about as if nothing is going to happen. But ask those Dinosaurs who were out on the day an asteroid struck Earth.

It may be just another day for us here on Earth. We may get up and go about as if nothing is going to happen. But ask those Dinosaurs who were out on the day an asteroid struck Earth. Well, you can't of course because all of them are dead (along with around 75 per cent of life at that time on the planet). This is what happens when a huge space rock decides that it is tired of travelling through space and wants to 'settle down' on the cosy planet we call Earth. Asteroids may be small compared to size of the Earth but they can cause massive destruction owing to their very high speeds. And this is why NASA and other space agencies around the world keep close watch on any rogue rocks that may be coming our way, or at least make a close call. And one such asteroid has been detected. The asteroid has been named 2020 XU6. And it will reach its closest point from Earth today (February 22). 2020 XU6 is the size of a 'stadium'. For perspective, Statue of Liberty will fall short if it tries to compete with the asteroid to check who was taller. Even Big Ben would not be able to win. The asteroid in 700 feet across (213 m). It is coming closer to Earth indeed. But we need not fret about extinction of humans just yet because it will miss the Earth by 4,087,734 km (2,540,000 m) You can safely go about your day now.

Asteroid alert: A 'stadium sized' space rock is hurtling towards Earth

It is believed that thousands of years ago, an asteroid had wiped off the whole existence of dinosaurs from the planet Earth. Now, scientists believe they have figured out how such a huge chunk of the rock ended up on Earth.

Experts from Harvard University believe it to be true that dinosaurs were killed due to an extra-terrestrial rock that had hit the Earth many centuries ago.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/archaeologists-find-unexpected-iron-age-settlement-in-oxfordshire-363766" hreflang="en">Archaeologists find unexpected iron age settlement in Oxfordshire</a>

It is being believed that the gravity of the Jupiter planet draws comets from icy outer edges of the solar system and bolts them inwards, towards the sun.

While the comets slingshot around the sun, the gravitational power can break apart the cosmic missile. This can result in several broken shards flying across the solar system.

There's a possibility that one such shard ended up colliding with the Earth centuries ago, leading to the death of hundreds of dinosaurs and other Earthly creatures.

"The solar system acts as a kind of pinball machine," Amir Siraj, an undergraduate student explained. "Jupiter, the most massive planet, kicks incoming long-period comets into orbits that bring them very close to the sun."

It is believed that thousands of years ago, an asteroid had wiped off the whole existence of dinosaurs from the planet Earth. Now, scientists believe they have figured out how such a huge chunk of the rock ended up on Earth.

It is believed that thousands of years ago, an asteroid had wiped off the whole existence of dinosaurs from the planet Earth. Now, scientists believe they have figured out how such a huge chunk of the rock ended up on Earth. Experts from Harvard University believe it to be true that dinosaurs were killed due to an extra-terrestrial rock that had hit the Earth many centuries ago. Also read| Archaeologists find unexpected iron age settlement in Oxfordshire It is being believed that the gravity of the Jupiter planet draws comets from icy outer edges of the solar system and bolts them inwards, towards the sun. While the comets slingshot around the sun, the gravitational power can break apart the cosmic missile. This can result in several broken shards flying across the solar system. There's a possibility that one such shard ended up colliding with the Earth centuries ago, leading to the death of hundreds of dinosaurs and other Earthly creatures. "The solar system acts as a kind of pinball machine," Amir Siraj, an undergraduate student explained. "Jupiter, the most massive planet, kicks incoming long-period comets into orbits that bring them very close to the sun."

Where did the asteroid which wiped out dinosaurs came from? Scientists answer

An&nbsp;asteroid as big as the Eiffel Tower is en route the Earth and is predicted to strike&nbsp;sometime early in 2021,&nbsp;according to a&nbsp;prediction made by&nbsp;French astrologer Nostradamus.

The&nbsp;monstrous asteroid called 2021 CO247, which is 0.83 times the height of the Eiffel Tower will fly past the Earth at 7.4 million kilometers.

Earlier,&nbsp;a gigantic 220-meter asteroid or about as wide as the Golden Gate Bridge is tall, at 6.9 million kilometers flew past the Earth on January 3.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/a-huge-asteroid-and-three-small-neos-will-shoot-past-earth-in-early-jan-nasa-warns-353824">A huge asteroid and three small NEOs will shoot past Earth in early Jan, NASA warns</a>

NASA scientists say an asteroid called 2021 AC, which is twice the size of&nbsp;the Great Pyramid of Giza, is set to hit the&nbsp;Earth's orbit on Wednesday. It will zoom by a distance of 3.5 kilometers.

Keeping up with the trend, in the first days of January, three additional, small Near-Earth Objects (NEOs) will grace the Earth with their presence.&nbsp;

The 15-metre asteroid 2019 YB4 will fly by at a safe distance of 6.4 million kilometres. It will be followed up by two more chunks of cosmic debris in the form of the 15-meter 2020 YA1 and the 21-meter 2020 YP4, which will pass by at 1.5 and 2.1 million kilometers respectively, the next day.

NASA had said that similarly sized asteroids pass by Earth at a similar distance a few times per year, however, they are&nbsp;difficult to record, unless they&nbsp;head&nbsp;directly towards the planet, in which case the explosion in the atmosphere is usually noticed.

World-famous astrologer Nostradamus has made 6,338 predictions out of which 3797 prophecies have apparently proved correct. 
 
Michel de Nostredame, usually Latinised as Nostradamus, was a French astrologer, physician and reputed seer, who is best known for his book Les Prophéties, a collection of 942 poetic quatrains allegedly predicting future events.

An asteroid as big as the Eiffel Tower is en route the Earth and is predicted to strike sometime early in 2021, according to a prediction made by French astrologer Nostradamus.

An asteroid as big as the Eiffel Tower is en route the Earth and is predicted to strike sometime early in 2021, according to a prediction made by French astrologer Nostradamus. The monstrous asteroid called 2021 CO247, which is 0.83 times the height of the Eiffel Tower will fly past the Earth at 7.4 million kilometers. Earlier, a gigantic 220-meter asteroid or about as wide as the Golden Gate Bridge is tall, at 6.9 million kilometers flew past the Earth on January 3. Also read: A huge asteroid and three small NEOs will shoot past Earth in early Jan, NASA warns NASA scientists say an asteroid called 2021 AC, which is twice the size of the Great Pyramid of Giza, is set to hit the Earth's orbit on Wednesday. It will zoom by a distance of 3.5 kilometers. Keeping up with the trend, in the first days of January, three additional, small Near-Earth Objects (NEOs) will grace the Earth with their presence. The 15-metre asteroid 2019 YB4 will fly by at a safe distance of 6.4 million kilometres. It will be followed up by two more chunks of cosmic debris in the form of the 15-meter 2020 YA1 and the 21-meter 2020 YP4, which will pass by at 1.5 and 2.1 million kilometers respectively, the next day. NASA had said that similarly sized asteroids pass by Earth at a similar distance a few times per year, however, they are difficult to record, unless they head directly towards the planet, in which case the explosion in the atmosphere is usually noticed. World-famous astrologer Nostradamus has made 6,338 predictions out of which 3797 prophecies have apparently proved correct. Michel de Nostredame, usually Latinised as Nostradamus, was a French astrologer, physician and reputed seer, who is best known for his book Les Prophéties, a collection of 942 poetic quatrains allegedly predicting future events.

Asteroid as big as Eiffel Tower is approaching Earth

The largest asteroid to fly past the Earth in 2021 is set to make a close approach to the planet on March 21.

Comparable in size to the Golden Gate Bridge, asteroid 231937&nbsp;or 2001 FO32, will&nbsp;pass within 2,016,351 km of Earth in 2021.

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Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2001 FO32 is approximately between 0.767 to 1.714 kilometres in diameter.&nbsp;At Congress's direction, NASA has supported a ground-based program to identify the NEOs larger than one kilometre in diameter.

NASA's&nbsp;Jet Propulsion Laboratory has classified 2001 FO32 as a "potentially hazardous asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth.

Potentially Hazardous Asteroids (PHAs) are currently defined based on parameters that measure the asteroid's potential to make threatening close approaches to the Earth.

The high-altitude explosion of a body 80 meters in diameter above Tunguska, Siberia, in 1908 flattened trees over a broad area. A differently aimed impact of this scale could flatten a modern city, with deaths in the millions.

Bodies larger than about 100 metre in size cause ground-level explosions in the giga-ton, or billions of tons, range. Such impacts would devastate whole countries. There is about a 1 per cent chance&nbsp;that such an impact will occur in the next century.

Assessment of the Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA) population down to 100-meter scales, as part of an organized inventory of the small bodies of the solar system, is recognized as a high priority for NASA's Solar System Exploration program.

Extrapolations from existing surveys suggest that the number of PHAs larger than 100 m is on the order of 10,000 to 20,000.&nbsp;

The largest asteroid to fly past the Earth in 2021 is set to make a close approach to the planet on March 21. Comparable in size to the Golden Gate Bridge, asteroid 231937 or 2001 FO32, will pass within 2,016,351 km of Earth in 2021.

The largest asteroid to fly past the Earth in 2021 is set to make a close approach to the planet on March 21. Comparable in size to the Golden Gate Bridge, asteroid 231937 or 2001 FO32, will pass within 2,016,351 km of Earth in 2021. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2001 FO32 is approximately between 0.767 to 1.714 kilometres in diameter. At Congress's direction, NASA has supported a ground-based program to identify the NEOs larger than one kilometre in diameter. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory has classified 2001 FO32 as a "potentially hazardous asteroid" due to its predicted close pass(es) with Earth. Potentially Hazardous Asteroids (PHAs) are currently defined based on parameters that measure the asteroid's potential to make threatening close approaches to the Earth. The high-altitude explosion of a body 80 meters in diameter above Tunguska, Siberia, in 1908 flattened trees over a broad area. A differently aimed impact of this scale could flatten a modern city, with deaths in the millions. Bodies larger than about 100 metre in size cause ground-level explosions in the giga-ton, or billions of tons, range. Such impacts would devastate whole countries. There is about a 1 per cent chance that such an impact will occur in the next century. Assessment of the Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA) population down to 100-meter scales, as part of an organized inventory of the small bodies of the solar system, is recognized as a high priority for NASA's Solar System Exploration program. Extrapolations from existing surveys suggest that the number of PHAs larger than 100 m is on the order of 10,000 to 20,000.

'Potentially hazardous': Largest known asteroid to fly past Earth in 2021

According to NASA's Center for Near Earth Object Studies (CNEOS), a huge<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/four-asteroids-headed-earths-way-on-day-of-joe-bidens-inauguration-as-us-president-357734"> asteroid</a> would travel past the Earth on February 1.

Watch:

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The space rock dubbed 2016 CL136 measures between 460 feet and 1,017 feet in diameter, report say which is equal to the size of the French Eiffel Tower.

Experts say the asteroid is expected to come 3.3 million miles of the Earth. The asteroid is reportedly set to travel past the Earth on February 1 at 5:26 pm.

In an earlier report, NASA scientists had said asteroid named 2021 AC, which is twice the size of the Great Pyramid of Giza, would hit the Earth's orbit.&nbsp;

NASA had said that small asteroids pass the Earth a few time a year which are often difficult to record.

NASA had earlier warned that a 220-meter asteroid was headed towards the Earth in the new year.

According to NASA's Center for Near Earth Object Studies (CNEOS), a huge asteroid would travel past the Earth on February 1. Watch: The space rock dubbed 2016 CL136 measures between 460 feet and 1,017 feet in diameter, report say which is equal to the size of the French Eiffel Tower.

According to NASA's Center for Near Earth Object Studies (CNEOS), a huge asteroid would travel past the Earth on February 1. Watch: The space rock dubbed 2016 CL136 measures between 460 feet and 1,017 feet in diameter, report say which is equal to the size of the French Eiffel Tower. Experts say the asteroid is expected to come 3.3 million miles of the Earth. The asteroid is reportedly set to travel past the Earth on February 1 at 5:26 pm. In an earlier report, NASA scientists had said asteroid named 2021 AC, which is twice the size of the Great Pyramid of Giza, would hit the Earth's orbit. NASA had said that small asteroids pass the Earth a few time a year which are often difficult to record. NASA had earlier warned that a 220-meter asteroid was headed towards the Earth in the new year.

Asteroid size of Eiffel Tower to pass Earth: NASA study

Asteroid collision with Earth - US space agency NASA has said that an asteroid will fly past the Earth on Thursday which would be just 28,254 km from the Earth's surface.&nbsp;

Watch:

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<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo">The asteroid would be speeding at around 27, 900 km per hour, the space agency said.</div>

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/asteroid-heading-towards-earth-a-day-before-us-elections-nasa-322513">Also Read:&nbsp;Asteroid heading towards Earth a day before US elections</a>

The asteroid named 2020 SW is around 15 to 30 feet wide, the NASA scientists said, which is roughly the size of a small bus.

The rock which was discovered just last week will continue on its journey around the Sun and wouldn't return to the Earth's atmosphere before 2041, scientists said.

According to EarthSky, the asteroid is so small that the Earth's gravity is expected to change the rock's course when it goes past the Earth. However, it will be a close call as it will pass just 7 per cent of the Moon’s distance and will be passing closer than geostationary satellites which are placed 35,888 km from our planet’s surface.&nbsp;

However, EarthSky said that "there is no risk of impact." The rocks is expected to be at its closet when it passes over Australia or New Zealand.

However, there is bad news for stargazers as it won't be visible through the naked eye but can be viewed through a 6 or 8-inch diameter telescope and is likely to increase in brightness as it approaches the Earth.

"The space rock is currently in the constellation of Pegasus the Flying Horse, and will then move to the constellation of Pisces the Fish," EarthSky said.

Asteroid collision with Earth - US space agency NASA has said that an asteroid will fly past the Earth on Thursday which would be just 28,254 km from the Earth's surface.

Asteroid collision with Earth - US space agency NASA has said that an asteroid will fly past the Earth on Thursday which would be just 28,254 km from the Earth's surface. Watch: The asteroid would be speeding at around 27, 900 km per hour, the space agency said. Also Read: Asteroid heading towards Earth a day before US elections The asteroid named 2020 SW is around 15 to 30 feet wide, the NASA scientists said, which is roughly the size of a small bus. The rock which was discovered just last week will continue on its journey around the Sun and wouldn't return to the Earth's atmosphere before 2041, scientists said. According to EarthSky, the asteroid is so small that the Earth's gravity is expected to change the rock's course when it goes past the Earth. However, it will be a close call as it will pass just 7 per cent of the Moon’s distance and will be passing closer than geostationary satellites which are placed 35,888 km from our planet’s surface. However, EarthSky said that "there is no risk of impact." The rocks is expected to be at its closet when it passes over Australia or New Zealand. However, there is bad news for stargazers as it won't be visible through the naked eye but can be viewed through a 6 or 8-inch diameter telescope and is likely to increase in brightness as it approaches the Earth. "The space rock is currently in the constellation of Pegasus the Flying Horse, and will then move to the constellation of Pisces the Fish," EarthSky said.

Asteroid alert: Space rock to zip past Earth today, will be closer than geostationary satellites

An asteroid "large enough to cause global effects," will fly by Earth next month on April 29.

According to NASA's Center for Near-Earth Object Studies, the asteroid is called 52768 (1998 OR2) and it will pass within 3,908,791 miles of Earth, moving at 19,461 miles per hour.

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/oldest-known-asteroid-collision-ended-earths-ice-age-study-275861">Oldest known asteroid collision ended Earth's 'ice age': Study</a>

Its estimated timing is 4:56 am as per the space agency.

The asteroid was classified as a potentially hazardous object because it passes near Earth's orbit.

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/asteroid-apophis-to-cause-massive-destruction-on-earth-in-2036-says-nasa-24666">Asteroid Apophis to cause massive destruction on Earth in 2036, says NASA</a>

However, it is not currently on NASA's list of potential future Earth impact events.&nbsp;

And scientists at NASA's Sentry System believe that it is not expected to collide with our planet.

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science-tech/nasas-first-of-its-kind-near-earth-asteroid-mission-lifts-off-6119">NASA's first-of-its kind near-Earth asteroid mission lifts off</a>

It's the largest asteroid expected to zip by Earth within the next two months, but it's not the largest ever.

The largest asteroid which flew by Earth was 3122 Florence (1981 ET3).&nbsp;

Fortunately, it missed colliding with it on September 1, 2017.

In addition to tracking Near-Earth Objects that could pose a threat, NASA and other agencies currently have missions underway to study near-Earth asteroids and potentially mitigate the danger of a collision.

The observatory is located on the Cerro Pachón ridge in north-central Chile.

An asteroid "large enough to cause global effects," will fly by Earth next month on April 29. According to NASA's Center for Near-Earth Object Studies, the asteroid is called 52768 (1998 OR2) and it will pass within 3,908,791 miles of Earth, moving at 19,461 miles per hour.

An asteroid "large enough to cause global effects," will fly by Earth next month on April 29. According to NASA's Center for Near-Earth Object Studies, the asteroid is called 52768 (1998 OR2) and it will pass within 3,908,791 miles of Earth, moving at 19,461 miles per hour. Also read: Oldest known asteroid collision ended Earth's 'ice age': Study Its estimated timing is 4:56 am as per the space agency. The asteroid was classified as a potentially hazardous object because it passes near Earth's orbit. Also read: Asteroid Apophis to cause massive destruction on Earth in 2036, says NASA However, it is not currently on NASA's list of potential future Earth impact events. And scientists at NASA's Sentry System believe that it is not expected to collide with our planet. Also read: NASA's first-of-its kind near-Earth asteroid mission lifts off It's the largest asteroid expected to zip by Earth within the next two months, but it's not the largest ever. The largest asteroid which flew by Earth was 3122 Florence (1981 ET3). Fortunately, it missed colliding with it on September 1, 2017. In addition to tracking Near-Earth Objects that could pose a threat, NASA and other agencies currently have missions underway to study near-Earth asteroids and potentially mitigate the danger of a collision. The observatory is located on the Cerro Pachón ridge in north-central Chile.

Asteroid 'large enough to cause global effect' to fly by Earth