Earth flies a huge asteroid the size of a skyscraper

According to the US space agency NASA, at the end of this week, on Saturday August 10 at a speed of 16,772 kilometers per hour for our planet approaches a very large asteroid. Scientists say that an object with a name 2006 QQ23 the size of a skyscraper. Its diameter is about 600 meters. Media and the public are already starting to worry. But scientists say that there is no threat. Asteroid should fly past the Earth at a safe distance. Anyway, that show the current calculations.

What are the dimensions of the asteroid?

The exact dimensions of the object up 569 meters. It was discovered in 2006. For comparison, the height of the American skyscraper Empire State Building is 443 meters (with a spire).

The comparative size of the asteroid, and the Empire State Building (left)

From the words of experts Lindley Johnson and Kelly's Fast of the Office for the Coordination of NASA planetary defense, the distance between the Earth and the asteroid at the closest point should be about 7, 5 million kilometers. Therefore, the inhabitants of the planet is not in danger. For comparison, the Moon lies about 384 000 kilometers, which is about 20 times closer.

The scientists say that the track like the so-called "near-Earth objects", including not only the asteroids, but also comets and their debris orbiting the sun. By space standards 8 million kilometers it is really a very small distance to Earth. Therefore, these objects are called Near Earth scientists.

What would happen if an asteroid will fall to Earth?

According to experts of NASA, annually by our planet fly at least 6 asteroid the size of 2006 QQ23. If about 600 meters the size of the object will fall to the earth, the consequences would be disastrous. Not on a global scale, of course. But in the regional accurately. He fell into the water can cause a stone giant tsunami. The consequences for cities, which are located in coastal areas within a radius falling object will be unimaginable.

Read also: What is the probability that an asteroid will fall to Earth?

At the moment, scientists at NASA are aware of the existence in our solar system, at least 900 near-Earth asteroids larger than one kilometer. But smaller space rubble around our planet much more. The account goes into the millions. And that creates a very big problem. Compact asteroids are much harder to detect. For example, recently the European Space Agency reported that just a week earlier flew past Earth asteroid the size of a football field.

to which flew past Earth asteroid turned out to be a football field size

The distance between the Earth and the small celestial body 100 meters in diameter was only 65 thousand kilometers or 1/5 the distance from the moon. What is interesting, it is only found at a time when it is already possible approach with the Earth and started to move away from her. Scientists from the European Space Agency say that we are sorely lacking terrestrial telescopes for effective monitoring of near-Earth objects such small sizes.

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