Skyscraper-sized asteroid set to pass close to Earth in Feb 2018
- 6 years ago
SPACE — A massive space rock will fly past Earth in February — the largest that's expected to come close to the planet this year.
Newshub reports that asteroid 2002 AJ129 is 1.1 kilometers wide, making it slightly longer than the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building.
The asteroid is hurtling through space at a speed of more than 107,000 kilometers per hour, 15 times faster than the hypersonic X-15 aircraft.
It is set to pass within 4.2 million kilometers from Earth on February 4, 2018, a distance NASA considers 'potentially dangerous' despite a low chance of a direct hit.
If an asteroid this size were to collide with Earth, studies suggest debris could cloud up the atmosphere, blocking the sun and causing temperature drops that could trigger a mini ice age.
NASA is currently incapable of intercepting an asteroid beelining straight for Earth. That technology won't be ready until after 2024.
Best keep your fingers crossed that no giant space rocks decide to come knocking til then.
Newshub reports that asteroid 2002 AJ129 is 1.1 kilometers wide, making it slightly longer than the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building.
The asteroid is hurtling through space at a speed of more than 107,000 kilometers per hour, 15 times faster than the hypersonic X-15 aircraft.
It is set to pass within 4.2 million kilometers from Earth on February 4, 2018, a distance NASA considers 'potentially dangerous' despite a low chance of a direct hit.
If an asteroid this size were to collide with Earth, studies suggest debris could cloud up the atmosphere, blocking the sun and causing temperature drops that could trigger a mini ice age.
NASA is currently incapable of intercepting an asteroid beelining straight for Earth. That technology won't be ready until after 2024.
Best keep your fingers crossed that no giant space rocks decide to come knocking til then.