Some asteroids pose a greater risk to the Earth compared to others, but how destructive can they be?
Most Dangerous Asteroids in the Solar System
Bennu
Asteroid Bennu has the size of 0.49 kilometers and has a mass of 74 million tons. The asteroid was first found in September 1999.
This near-Earth asteroid has a huge risk of impacting the Earth. However, the good news is that this will not be the case for quite a while. According to NASA scientists, the space rock has a 0.37%, or 1-in-2,700, chance of striking the Earth during its closest approach to Earth on September 24, 2182.
If it were to hit the Earth, its detonation would be equivalent to 1.4 billion tons of TNT. This may lead to regional destruction and not planet-wide devastation. It may also kill millions if it were to hit an area with a dense population.
Scientists are now learning more about this asteroid rich in carbon. In fact, the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft of NASA was able to retrieve a Bennu sample and bring it back to Earth. The sample is being analyzed and studied further to uncover more mysteries about the potentially hazardous asteroid.
29075 (1950 DA)
Asteroid 29075 is the second-riskiest space rock in the solar system. Spanning 1.3 kilometers and having a mass of 78 million tons, the asteroid was discovered in February 1950. However, it got lost and was only rediscovered after 50 years.
The rock is believed to be an asteroid containing high amounts of iron-nickel and with a loose rubble pile.
At present, the asteroid has a 1 in 34,000 chance, or 0.0029% chance, of hitting the Earth on March 16, 2880. If it were to hit the Earth, its released energy would be equivalent to up to 75 billion tons of TNT. This could trigger a catastrophe that could erase humanity from the planet.
2023 TL4
First discovered in 2023, the 2023 TL4 asteroid has a mass of 47 million tons and spans 0.33 kilometers. It immediately became one of the solar system's most potentially hazardous asteroids. The asteroid has a 0.00055%, or 1 in 181,000, chance of hitting the Earth on October 10, 2119.
If this impact were to indeed take place, the asteroid would be able to release energy that is equivalent to 7.5 billion tons of TNT being detonated.
2007 FT 3
Spanning 0.34 kilometers and having a mass of 54 million tons, 2007 FT3 is called the lost asteroid because it has not been seen since 2007. While its orbit is not constrained properly, NASA thinks that the asteroid has a 1-in-10 million (0.0000096%) chance of hitting the Earth on March 3, 2030. It also has a 0.0000087% chance of hitting the planet on October 5, 2024.
If either impact were to take place, the energy released would be equivalent to 2.6 billion tons of TNT being detonated. While this may not cause global devastation, it could lead to grave regional damage.
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