Could a lost asteroid be close to Earth? NASA explains

A NASA recently dispelled any fears regarding the potential collision of the asteroid designated as 2007 FT3 with Earth in the year 2024.

This gigantic celestial body, nicknamed the “lost asteroid”, raised concerns after a GB News report suggested a 1 in 11.5 million chance of impacting our planet on October 5 this year.

NASA clarifications

However, the US space agency U.S categorically refuted such claims, pointing out that there are no known threats of asteroid strikes on Earth in the next century.

NASA has emphasized its commitment to diligently monitoring space for asteroids and near-Earth objects (NEOs), reinforcing constant vigilance to identify, track and categorize potential threats.

Asteroid “God of Chaos” frequently observed by NASA – Image: NASA/reproduction

The agency clarified that even considering orbit at a distance of 30 million miles from Earth as a close approach, the chances of impact are extremely remote.

Larger asteroids are more easily identified and their orbits, well understood for years or decades, minimize the risk of surprises.

Despite the fanfare, public attention to asteroids has increased considerably in recent years. Last December, NASA launched a mission to study the asteroid Apophis, known as the “God of Chaos”.

This colossal celestial object, almost three times the size of Mount Everest, will approach Earth on April 13, 2029, at a distance of around 31,000 kilometers above the Earth’s surface, but without posing any real threat of collision.

Although a recent study identified a possible collision of Apophis with Earth in 2068, due to an acceleration phenomenon known as the Yarkovsky effect, NASA’s current projections rule out the likelihood of an impact.

O asteroidwhich has already drawn attention for its possible collision course in 2029, remains an object of constant study and monitoring, providing an opportunity for fascinating astronomical observation in the night sky for those in the Northern Hemisphere.