A massive asteroid with a diameter of approximate meters passed by Earth at an impressive speed of 24 kilometers per second. What makes the event interesting is the fact that the asteroid, which is has been named 2009 OK, raced by our planet at a distance 70,000 kilometers, which is considerably closer than the moon but still a great distance.
Astronomers didn’t know anything about the event as the asteroid comes towards us from the general direction of the sun, a trajectory which renders it hard to detect, even if modern technology is used.
According to some sources, it is the most massive asteroid which flew so close to Earth this year, and it will likely remain the only one for an extended period. When the telescopes began to detect it, many researchers were impressed by the event. According to a statement offered by a well-known astronomer, the impact between Earth and the asteroid could have led to severe damage.
A Massive Asteroid Just Passed By Earth At High Speed
The sheer force of the explosion would have been up to 30 times bigger than the energy released when a nuclear warhead exploded at Hiroshima. While the rock carries enough power to destroy an entire city, its small size makes it highly elusive, and scientists didn’t realize that it was heading towards Earth.
It is thought that asteroids with a similar size pass by our planets once every ten years. Three different asteroids had also passed by Earth last week, but none of them was as impressive or dangerous as 2019 OK. Astronomy teams located in Brazil and the US identified the asteroid, and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory confirmed the discovery.
The event has been deemed to be one of the closest approaches to Earth, and the size of the asteroid makes it quite significant. The impact which killed the dinosaurs involved a giant asteroid with a diameter of 16 kilometers, but past encounters have proved that even small ones are dangerous.
Jasmine holds a Master’s in Journalism from Ryerson University in Toronto and writes professionally in a broad variety of genres. She has worked as a senior manager in public relations and communications for major telecommunication companies, and is the former Deputy Director for Media Relations with the Modern Coalition. Jasmine writes primarily in our LGBTTQQIAAP and Science section.