2 days to go: Asteroid 2016 PD1 approaching dangerously towards Earth, may hit our planet

Earth is going to have yet another close encounter with a giant asteroid. On August 26, 2019, asteroid 2016 PD1 will come extremely close to the Earth. Yes, you read it right. And from today onwards, there is only three days left. Do not worry as the asteroid 2016 PD1 will not hit the Earth and we are safe. It is to be noted that asteroids are small, rocky objects that orbit the Sun. The space rocks (asteroids) approach towards the Earth due to the gravitational forces that affect them. Asteroids can bring tsunamis, shock waves and flattening winds that could be catastrophic. It is worth mentioning here that in recent times, many giant asteroids including 2019 OK, 2019 OD, 2015 HM10, 2019 OE, 2019 NN3, 2019 MB4, 2019 MT2, 2006 QV89, 2016 NO56M, RF12 and others approached towards the Earth, fortunately did not hit our planet.

Coming back to the asteroid 2016 PD1, the 361-feet space rock will fly past the Earth on August 26, 2019 at 7:07 am (ST). The giant space rock is traveling at a speed of 13,100 miles per hour. It will zip past the Earth from a distance of 0.02925 astronomical units or about 2.7 million miles away.

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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. However, as of now we are safe.

According to a report published by spacetelescope.org, there are more than 7 lakh asteroids that have been found in space. Asteroids are mainly found in an area called the ‘main belt’, between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter.

Also Read: Is Earth near extinction? 7 asteroids heading towards our planet THIS August, may hit us

Importantly, three other asteroids named as 2002 JR100 and 2019 OU1 will fly past the Earth this month.

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