Asteroid 1998 HL1: Biggest Space Rock To Come Near Earth On This Day, May Wipe Out Entire City If Hits

Asteroid 1998 HL1, the biggest space rock, will dangerously approach Earth in a couple of weeks. Yes, you read it right. It is to be noted that asteroid 1998 HL1 is classified as “Potentially Hazardous asteroid” (PHA) by NASA. If the supergiant space rock hits the Earth, the impact event would create an explosion powerful enough to wipe out a large and populated city. It is worth mentioning here that 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 in every few million. 

Coming back to asteroid 1998 HL1, the space rock has been also classified as an Apollo. It will dangerously come close to Earth on October 25 at around 10:50 pm (IST). With an estimated diameter of 3,248 feet and traveling at a velocity of 25,000 miles per hour, 162082 (1998 HL1) is certainly a dangerous asteroid, reported ibtimes.com.  

Also Read: Asteroid 2017 TJ4: NASA Estimates Space Rock To Approach Earth Today At 19,863MPH – Will It Hit?

Also Read: Two ‘Potentially Hazardous’ Asteroids 1998 FF14, 2019 SW1 Shot Past Earth HOURS Ago, Luckily Failed To Hit Earth

According to a report of ibtimes.com, if the supergiant asteroid hits Earth, it would create a crater that’s several miles wide. On the other hand, if 1998 HL1 strikes a city, the entire area will be completely wiped out. Whereas, if the asteroid hits the ocean, it will trigger mega-tsunamis that will destroy coastal and nearby inland areas. 

Fortunately, the space rock will completely miss the Earth during its upcoming approach. Asteroid 1998 HL1 will fly past Earth and we all will remain safe. During 1998 HL1’s approach, it will be about 0.04155 astronomical units or almost 3.9 million miles from the planet’s centre. After its upcoming visit, the asteroid may return to Earth’s neighbourhood on October 15, 2026.

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