Asteroid terror: Earth Had Close Encounter With Space Rock JD1 Few Hours Ago, Fortunate We are
Earth Had A Very Close Encounter With An Asteroid Identified As JD1, Which Was Taller Than New York’s Empire State Building, On Sunday Evening.
Earth had a very close encounter with an asteroid identified as JD1, which was taller than New York’s Empire State Building, on Sunday evening. Measuring somewhere between 656ft and 1,476ft (200m to 450m) across, asteroid JD1 came dangerously close to Earth at around 7:15 PM (IST). Fortunately, asteroid JD1 failed to collide with our planet or else massive casualties would have occurred.
Asteroid JD1 has been classified as a Near-Earth Object or NEO. During the flyby, asteroid JD1 reached a speed of more than 26,600mph (42,900kph). At its closest, asteroid JD1 approached Earth from a distance of about 0.03312 astronomical units.
It is to be noted that one astronomical unit is the distance from Earth to the Sun – about 93 million miles (149.6 million km). Asteroid 2015 JD1 was first spotted in the solar system four years ago in May 2015. NASA’s trackers have since characterized it as an Apollo-type NEO or Near-Earth Object. Asteroid JD1 crosses Earth’s orbit in a fashion similar to Asteroid 1862 Apollo.
Also Read: Collision Between Asteroids Sparked Earth’s Biodiversity: Study
Asteroids, if hit Earth, can bring tsunamis, shock waves and flattening winds that could be catastrophic. The space rocks approach towards the Earth due to the gravitational forces that affect them. It is said that one day all life on the Earth will be extinct. Not only life, but the Earth will also extinct someday and an asteroid could be the possible reason. Shocked to hear that? However, a car-sized asteroid slams into the Earth's atmosphere about once in a year. On the other hand, an asteroid large enough to threaten the existence of life on Earth arrives once every few million.
For all the Latest Science News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
More from Science
Maternally blessed at the age of 45 years after being childless for 16 years
ISRO congratulates NASA and SpaceX for their "historic" manned mission
Four Indian cosmonauts resume training in Russia for Gaganyaan mission
17 pc decline in global carbon emissions due to COVID-19 lockdown: Study
Good News: NASA develops high-pressure ventilator to fight COVID-19