Will it be the end of world TOMORROW, giant asteroid 2019 NJ2 set to fly dangerously close to Earth

In recent days, we have heard about many asteroids including 2019 NN3, 2019 MB4, 2019 MT2, 2006 QV89, 2016 NO56M, RF12 and others going past through our planet. Although these asteroids were really close to Earth, but we were really fortunate. The gravitational force of Earth pulls all the asteroids and therefore they come so close to our planet. Well, there is a warning bell for us as another asteroid named ‘2019 NJ2’ will be approaching towards Earth on Friday.

Asteroid 2019 NJ2, with an estimated diameter of around 207 feet, is currently traveling at a speed of 30,000 miles per hour. According to the CNEOS, the asteroid will reach its closes distance to Earth on July 19 at 7.53 pm (Standard Time). The agency further predicted that the asteroid will be about 0.03421 astronomical units or roughly 3.1 million miles away from the planet’s centre during its approach.

It is to be noted that the asteroid 2019 NJ2 was first observed on June 29 this year. CNEOS data says that the asteroid’s first recorded close approach happened in 1952 when the space rock flew near Venus.

Also Read: Asteroid NN3 to pass extremely close to Earth TODAY, all you need to know

The CNEOS also noted that the asteroid 2019 NJ2 is expected to return to Earth’s neighbourhood on July 7, 2119. During that time, 2019 NJ2 will be flying at a much farther distance from Earth compared to its upcoming approach. CNEOS further estimated that it will be about 0.25594 astronomical units or around 23.8 million miles away from Earth during its future visit in 2119. 

In other news, a report published by spacetelescope.org says that there are more than 700 000 asteroids that have been found in space. It further added that asteroids are mainly found in an area called the ‘main belt’, between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter.

On December 18 last year, a large meteoroid was exploded over the Bering Sea, however, it went unnoticed due to the remote location. According to the NASA, the explosion of meteoroid unleashed around 173 kilotons of energy, more than 10 times that of the atomic bomb blast over Hiroshima in World War II. Also, it was the most powerful explosion in the atmosphere since the fireball that burst over the Russian town of Chelyabinsk in 2013. That was 440 kilotons and left 1,500 people injured, mostly from glass flying out of smashed windows.

RELATED