An asteroid passed earth very closely recently – and NASA apparently didn’t see it coming.
Graphic rendering of an asteroid.
Asteroid trackers in Italy said it was the closest they’ve ever recorded. The asteroid, called 2020 QG, flew within about 2,950km (1,830 miles) of Earth on Sunday. This is extremely close when it comes to asteroids – you’ve probably travelled further than 1,830 miles on a plane. (To put it into context).
The Italian observatory only actually detected the rock 6 hours after it passed us. It was estimated to be around the size of a car.
Paul Chodas, the director of NASA’s Center for Near Earth Object Studies, said: “The asteroid approached undetected from the direction of the sun.
“We didn’t see it coming.”
He continued: “Yesterday’s close approach is closest on record, if you discount a few known asteroids that have actually impacted our planet.”
Car sized asteroids are pretty common according to scientists, and NASA apparently records one or two of them every year. This particular asteroid was no threat to us humans though, as it probably would have just disintegrated in the atmosphere.
Because of its size, all that would have been seen from the ground is a small fiery ball in the sky. It’s almost 100% likely none of it would have ever reached the surface, say it had hit Earth.
The Jet Propulsion Laboratory at California Institute of Technology has a good website which you should check out if you’re interested in learning more about asteroids.
They also confirmed the regular occurrence of these smaller space rocks, by saying: “About once a year, an automobile-sized asteroid hits Earth’s atmosphere, creates an impressive fireball, and burns up before reaching the surface.
“Every 2,000 years or so, a meteoroid the size of a football field hits Earth and causes significant damage to the area.
They continued: “Finally, only once every few million years, an object large enough to threaten Earth’s civilization comes along. Impact craters on Earth, the moon and other planetary bodies are evidence of these occurrences.”
