NASA Tracks 5 New Asteroid Flybys This Week, How Far Are These From Earth?

The earth's solar system is so vast, that astronauts and astronomers encounter foreign objects from time to time and some of these alien things can be considered destructive.

Some objects are labeled as stagnant, but one fact about these heavenly bodies, they are amazing.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) stated on their updated asteroid tracking system that there will be five near-Earth asteroids that will greet "Hi" to the blue planet.

NASA said that these asteroid flybys will begin on September 11 and can last up until the 18th of September. But the exact time of the encounter was not revealed. The space agency also showed the dimensions and the distance of the asteroids that will have the closest approach.

The Asteroid Flybys

Asteroid 2022 QF

According to the report of Financial Express, last August NASA uncovered an asteroid called 2022 QF that has 140 feet in width and will fly by the earth on the 11th of September.

The asteroid was labeled as a Near-Earth Object (NEO) and forecasted that it will come about 7.3 million kilometers from earth maintaining a speed of 30, 384 km/hour, making it a safe passage across the planet.

Asteroid 2022 QD1

This asteroid's width is about 240 feet and is said to be capable of ruining a city. NASA said that the asteroid will be flying by on September 16 traveling over 30, 000 kilometers per second.

Asteroid 2022 QB37

With a speed of over 30,000 kilometers per second, the Asteroid 2022 QB37 will be closest to earth on September 18 which is over 180 feet wide.

Asteroid 2008 RW

In 2008, the asteroid called 2008 RW was discovered, with a length of 310-foot bigger than Qutub Minar which is India's tallest minaret that stands 240 feet. It is forecasted to come close to earth this September 12.

Asteroid 2005 RC3

This asteroid was initially sited in 2005, with a width measuring over 400 feet, Asteroid 2005 RC is expected to fly by close to earth on the 18th of September. It will be at a range of 4.7 million kilometers of the planet.

Asteroid approaching the Earth.
An unmanned asteroid mining spacecraft heading back to Earth with a captured asteroid. This is my original conceptual representation of an asteroid mining spacecraft. Getty Images

NASA's Defense System

NASA recognized one most dangerous, which is 500-meter wide, asteroid Bennu. A report from the Jerusalem Post said that if this asteroid hit the planet, the result will be devastating-but NASA is aware and has a plan if that situation approaches.

As reported in Scientific American, the space agency is testing a new form of technology that aims to hit asteroids that are moving in a different direction, to keep the planet protected from foreign objects.

This technology is called the Deep Asteroid Reduction Experiment (DART), its mission is to intentionally collide with an asteroid to change its direction.

To detect these foreign bodies that will potentially hit the earth, NASA will use an infrared-based space telescope named Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE).

It will help NASA map the trajectory to know all the information when it comes near earth.

The DART Mission is set on September 26, to hit its target asteroid Dimorphous.


Check out more news and information on Space in Science Times.

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