NASA Tracking 130ft Plane-Sized Asteroid Approaching Earth Tomorrow
Summary
NASA is tracking an asteroid called 2003 LN6 that will pass near Earth on June 18 at a distance of 880,000 miles. The asteroid is about as big as a plane and poses no risk to Earth. NASA monitors asteroids regularly and has tested methods to change their paths if needed.Key Facts
- The asteroid 2003 LN6 is about 98 to 223 feet (30 to 68 meters) across.
- It will pass Earth on June 18 at 8,768 miles per hour, at a distance of 880,000 miles.
- This asteroid is currently in the constellation Lyra, about 920,000 miles from Earth.
- Close asteroid flybys happen often and usually do not threaten Earth.
- Small asteroids under 30 feet hit Earth roughly every 10 years, mostly causing bright fireballs and sonic booms.
- Large asteroids over 500 feet can cause serious damage but strike Earth only once every 20,000 years.
- NASA successfully changed an asteroid’s orbit with the DART mission in 2022 to prove asteroid deflection is possible.
- NASA plans to launch NEO Surveyor in 2027, a space telescope to find hazardous near-Earth objects earlier.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.