Scientists are eagerly looking at the journey of a massive asteroid that is on its way to Earth. According to space astronomers, the big space rock Asteroid 388945 (2008 TZ3) will make a near approach to our planet at 2.48 am on May 16.
According to NASA, the asteroid is 1,608 feet diameter. In comparison, the Empire State Building in New York is 1,454 feet tall. It dwarfs the Statue of Liberty and is larger than the Eiffel Tower. If the space rock collides with Earth, it will do massive destruction.
However, according to space experts’ predictions, it will pass us at a distance of roughly 2.5 million miles. Though it may appear to be a long distance, it is not in terms of space. As a result, NASA has classified this as a “close approach.”
This is not the first time Asteroid 388945 has visited us. In May 2020, it came quite close to Earth, at a distance of 1.7 million miles. This space rock orbits the Sun and passes Earth every two years, according to space experts. It will pass near Earth again in May 2024, but this time it will be far farther away – 6.9 million miles.
The asteroid will pass near Earth again in May 2163. Asteroids that come within 4.65 million miles of Earth and are larger than a specific size are deemed “possibly dangerous” by space organisations.
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