NASA warns: giant asteroids will pass close to Earth next month!

Near-Earth asteroids are a growing concern for scientists and the general public. Thanks to science and communication, more and more people are up to date on these events and can learn about what is happening in the Universe.

These space objects, which can range in size from just a few meters to several miles in diameter, move in orbits close to Earth and, in some cases, can even collide with our planet.

While most asteroids that pass close to Earth do not pose an immediate threat, those that are of considerable size and come very close can be a real concern.

Some of them are the asteroid Apophis, which has an estimated diameter of 370 meters and will pass close to Earth in 2029 and 2036; and Bennu, with a diameter of about 500 meters, considered one of the most dangerous asteroids currently known.

Today, they are mapped and constantly monitored by NASA to ensure we are prepared if anything happens.

And that’s how space surveillance scientists identified two huge asteroids that will pass very close to our planet soon!

Near-Earth Asteroids in June

The image you saw is a comparison of the diameter of one of the near-Earth asteroids, 488453 (1994 XD). It and 2020 DB5 will pass very close to us in June and are each approximately 800 meters in diameter.

This highlights the importance of constant space surveillance. Scientists from several agencies, especially NASA, have been monitoring the trajectory of these objects, which, although in different orbits, coincide in terms of the time of their approach.

The predicted distance for these asteroids to pass will not be great enough to pose a direct threat to Earth.

By carrying out a more detailed analysis of the predicted distance for the passage of the two large asteroids, the American space agency confirmed that the objects will be relatively close to Earth, despite being around 3 million km away.

Although this distance is very large, when it comes to space, the proximity is still a cause for concern. Since the trajectory of these asteroids is influenced by several factors, including the gravity of other planets and space objects, it is difficult to predict exactly how they will behave in relation to Earth.

Therefore, even if there is no warning regarding these two asteroids, when space objects of this size approach our planet, it requires an assessment of the risk they could present if they were closer.

Due to the size and speed of these objects, it is crucial that scientists constantly monitor the orbit of near-Earth asteroids.

Fortunately, space detection technologies have advanced significantly in recent years, allowing researchers to identify dangerous asteroids with greater accuracy and earlier.