The European Space Agency (ESA), NASA, and any other relevant space organizations keep a close look out for any potentially hazardous objects that may strike the surface of the Earth and inflict harm. According to NASA’s estimates, as many as five asteroids zipped past the Earth at extremely near ranges just the day before yesterday.
Although though none of these asteroids crashed with one another, the fact that they came so near is a useful reminder to monitor and keep track of these space pebbles. An asteroid that is headed in the direction of Earth has been tracked by NASA, and it is anticipated that it will reach its closest approach to the planet today.
Information on the asteroid 2023 FT2
Asteroid 2023 FT2 is the designation that the Center for Near-Earth Object Research at NASA has given to the space rock. The same group has also disclosed its course, the distance between them now and when they will be in close proximity, and their anticipated speed. Today,
March 24, asteroid 2023 FT2 will make its closest approach to Earth at a distance of 2.6 million kilometers. According to NASA, the width of the asteroid ranges anywhere from 55 to 121 feet.
NASA has also disclosed that this space rock is already hurtling toward the globe at a terrifying speed of 43249 kilometers per hour. Its approach to the planet is now underway.
It was found in the 1930s by a German astronomer by the name of Karl Reinmuth, and it is a member of the Apollo group of asteroids, which are a collection of Near-Earth asteroids named after the enormous Apollo asteroid that was discovered in 1862.
Studies of space rocks known as asteroids
In recent years, there has been a rising effort to detect and research asteroids that have the potential to endanger Earth. These asteroids are known as potential hazards. The DART test, which was conducted by NASA, was the first such attempt at protecting the world against a hypothetical asteroid strike.
NASA conducted research on the asteroids Didymos and Dimorphos in order to develop strategies for asteroid deflection and get a better understanding of the possible danger posed by asteroid collisions. Hera, a spacecraft operated by the European Space Agency (ESA), was the one to monitor the aftermath of the collision and relay its findings for further investigation.
Even though it is not anticipated that an asteroid will strike the Earth and cause a major catastrophe for at least the next 100 years, these close approaches serve as a reminder of how important it is to continue studying and tracking asteroids in order to gain a deeper understanding of potential dangers and to be ready for any eventuality.