Published: 11/13/2023 (Last Updated: 11/13/2023 at: 14:33)
Together – a comet called “Satan” can truly inspire fear, especially since this particular space rock is three times the size of Mount Everest and is currently erupting like a volcano on its way to Earth.
Fortunately, 12P/Pons-Brooks is unlikely to actually collide with Earth, but it is expected to be visible to the naked eye in June 2024, when it reaches its closest point next year. But what about space rocks? A near-Earth race by the end of the year?
In this regard, MailOnline reveals five rare, massive and close-in asteroids that stargazers can enjoy in the next couple of months.
139622 (2001 QQ142)
An Apollo-class asteroid, it crosses Earth’s orbit and is the main source of meteors that sometimes strike our planet.
The space rock is believed to be 0.2 miles (0.347 km) and 1 mile (1,552 km) in diameter, larger than 97% of all known asteroids orbiting in space.
The asteroid, which takes 620 days to orbit the Sun, is scheduled to come within 3.4 million miles (5.5 million kilometers) of Earth on December 6.
341843 (2008 EV5)
An Aden-class asteroid with an orbital period of less than a year is hidden from the Sun.
The asteroid is 1,300 feet (0.4 km) in diameter, larger than 90% of all asteroids.
Its orbit around the Sun takes 343 days, and it will approach Earth at a distance of 3.9 million miles (6.3 million km) on December 20, five days before Christmas.
(2019 CZ2)
A very small Apollo-class asteroid, estimated at 68 feet (21 meters) and 308 feet (94 meters) in diameter.
It is currently located in Pisces, where it takes 605 days to orbit the Sun.
The asteroid is scheduled to make its closest approach to Earth on November 25 at a distance of 666,000 miles (1.1 million kilometers) at a speed of 20,900 km/h.
Year 2020 3
An Apollo-class asteroid with an estimated diameter between 101 feet (31 meters) and 230 feet (70 meters).
The asteroid is currently located in the Australasian Corona constellation and takes 1,100 days to orbit the Sun.
It will pass close to Earth on December 23 at a distance of 847 thousand miles (1.3 million kilometers).
(2013 VX4)
An Apollo-class asteroid with an estimated diameter between 144 feet (44 meters) and 325 feet (99 meters).
Its orbit around the Sun takes 912 days, and it will reach its closest approach to Earth on December 4, where it will pass at a distance of about 1.2 million miles (1.9 million kilometers).
NASA is preparing a planetary defense strategy in the form of the Dual Asteroid Redirection Test (DART), which proved successful last year.
To date, the US space agency has discovered more than a million space rocks orbiting our solar system, 95% of which are larger than half a mile.
There are currently more than 30,000 near-Earth objects (NEOS), some of which are classified as “dangerous”.
Source: Daily Mail
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