“Asteroid passes between Earth and Moon over the weekend… Big enough to blow up a city”
(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Kang Jin-wook = The Associated Press reported on the 23rd (local time) that an asteroid large enough to destroy a city is approaching Earth, but luckily it will pass between the Earth and the Moon the this weekend.
According to scientists, the asteroid is expected to pass the moon on the 25th at a distance of less than 515,000 km, and in a few hours pass the Earth at a speed of 28,000 km at an altitude of 168,000 km over the Indian Ocean. .
This distance is less than half the distance between the Earth and the Moon, making the asteroid visible with binoculars or a small telescope.
Scientists discovered this asteroid a month ago and named it ‘2023 DZ2’, and the size is estimated to be between 40 and 91 m.
“This ‘city destroyer’ asteroid is unlikely to collide with Earth, but it will come close to Earth and provide a good observation opportunity,” said European Space Agency (ESA) Earth Defense Director Richard Moisl in a statement.
It is common for asteroids to pass Earth, but only once in a decade has a large asteroid come this close, according to NASA.
According to NASA, astronomers from the International Asteroid Warning Network (IAYN) are using the asteroid’s approach as a training opportunity for Earth defense.
The Virtual Telescope Project (VTP), headquartered in Rome, Italy, plans to broadcast the asteroid approaching Earth in real time over the Internet.
This asteroid is expected to approach the Earth again in 2026, and scientists believe that there is no possibility of a collision with the Earth at this time either.
kjw@yna.co.kr
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