Is Earth in Danger? NASA’s Warning on the 84-Foot Asteroid That Is Close to Hitting Earth

Introduction:

In recent months space agencies like NASA have remained on high alert regarding the potential threat posed by asteroids capable of crossing Earth’s orbit. One of those objects, a hulking 84-foot asteroid, is attracting media coverage because of how close it is. This asteroid is zooming through space — but should we be worried? How does NASA monitor these objects, and what is it doing to protect us? In this article, we describe what NASA’s asteroid warning systems are, why this particular asteroid is a close flyby worth paying attention to and what the asteroid could mean for Earth.

What Is an 84-Foot Asteroid?

An 84-foot space rock isn’t the largest object to whiz by Earth, but its size and path have gotten scientists and space agencies interested. This asteroid, roughly 84 feet in diameter, would deliver a big bang in a possible impact with Earth, but its speed and proximity to our planet would play important roles. The size is significant in itself, because many things that size — especially asteroids — are not detected until they get quite close to Earth.

• Size and Composition: The 84-foot-wide asteroid is known as a near-Earth object (NEO). NEOs are comets and asteroids with orbits that bring them near Earth. While far smaller than the largest asteroids, colliding with Earth releases an immense amount of energy.
• Why Size Matters: Smaller asteroids, like this one, are not studied as much as the larger ones, but can be just as hazardous, depending upon how fast and how close they come. Such a large, fast-moving asteroid could enrage the atmosphere, generate shockwaves or regional destruction on impact.

How NASA Tracks Asteroids

NASA has a solid system in place to hunt for asteroids, with several different space telescopes and observation programs dedicated to tracking Earth-threatening objects. The agency employs a suite of technologies to find, characterize and predict the orbits of near-Earth objects (NEOs).

• SPACE SURVEILLANCE NETWORK (SSN): NASA Space Surveillance Network a network of network of giant ground-based telescopes and radar systems are connected together to detect and spot asteroids in outer space. These systems are supposed to scan the skies and warn of potential threats.
• The AIM (Asteroid Impact Monitoring) Program: Another program used for asteroid detection is the AIM program. NASA is capable of running a constant surveillance of near-Earth objects to ascertain their size, composition, and trajectory. AIM's program has been critical in tracking the giant iron meteor for the 84-foot asteroid into orbit.
• Other Observational Tools: Other telescopes in space, such as NEOWISE’s infrared survey, play important roles in spotting and tracking asteroids as well. These tools provide additional layers of data that NASA scientists can rely upon to improve their understanding of the odds of these objects becoming problematic

The Trek of the 84-Foot Asteroid

However, due to the close proximity of the 84-foot asteroid to Earth, scientists are keeping a closer watch on it, even if it doesn’t qualify the classification of a “potentially hazardous asteroid.” The "object" in this sentence is an asteroid headed for Earth and could well pass within this distance. But the question is how close is too close?

• What Is a Close Approach: NASA defines a close approach as any object passing within 0.05 AU of Earth. One AU is roughly the distance from the Earth to the Sun — that is, about 93 million miles away. For context, an asteroid reported to be 84 feet wide was recently tracked to pass much closer than this, causing alarm over its future, possibly cataclysmic, impact.
• For The Path of the Super luminous Asteroid: NASA’s observational systems have tracked the asteroid’s course quite closely. Right now, it is due to zip millions of miles past Earth, but at such velocity and so near that even a slight change of course might cause it to come closer. No collision is expected at this time, but the situation is being closely monitored.

Why Should We Care About Small Asteroids?

While it might be tempting to think of small asteroids as no big deal, even small objects can cause equally devastating damage if they fall to Earth. Here are some why even small asteroids are treated seriously by NASA and other space agencies:

• Energy Released in an Impact: When asteroids hit Earth, they release energy on the order of hundreds or even thousands of tons of TNT. An 84-foot-diameter asteroid entering earth's atmosphere might lead to a nuclear bomb-sized explosion damaging a vast area.
• Atmospheric Entry: Asteroids that enter Earth’s atmosphere generally break apart and combust before they reach the ground. But bigger sections can survive, creating threatening shrapnel drop on the roadway. Even small asteroids can do destructive damage with fireball airbursts — like the 2013 Chelyabinsk meteor that exploded above Russia and injured over 1,500 people.
• Regional Impacts: Even if an asteroid doesn’t destroy the world, a regional strike can still result in lots of death and destruction. The catastrophic effects of the impact of a smaller asteroid can be still devastating in a populated or sensitive area, especially if the impact occurs in a city or in a large installation.

How NASA Is Preparing for a Possible Impact

Earth could be in danger, but NASA's got its eye on planetary defense and is leaving nothing to chance when it comes to our planet's well-being. These include:

• The office of Planetary Defense Coordination (PDCO): Office specializes in coordination of potentially hazardous asteroids and comets detection, tracking, and characterization. Working with other agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security, the PDCO also makes sure response strategies are ready if a potential impact threat is detected.
• Mitigation Strategies: NASA already has a plan for dealing with an asteroid strike on Earth. Those strategies include asteroid deflection, in which a spacecraft could be used to nudge an asteroid off course. Another way to possibly divert a dinosaur killer is to blow it apart; a process called asteroid disruption, where explosives are detonated on the surface of an asteroid to split it into smaller, and thus less damaging, pieces.
• International Collaboration: NASA cooperates with the space agencies in other countries to monitor and defend against asteroid strikes. European, Russian, and Chinese space agencies also operate programs dedicated to asteroid monitoring, so we are sharing information and resources to ensure that we are prepared for potential threats.

No One Knows What to Expect:

While the 84-foot asteroid will not collide with Earth, its close encounter raises critical questions in the greater scope of future asteroid detection and preparedness. With every near-Earth object that flies close to our planet, scientists revel in the opportunity to gather priceless data that improve our ability to detect, spot and counter future threats.

• Less attention and research on this topic: Incidents like this one raise the profile of potential catastrophes and the need for more funding and research on planetary defense. Governments and space agencies around the world are paying more for technologies that will allow them to detect smaller asteroids earlier and devise more effective mitigation strategies.
• Public Interest in Space and Asteroid Defense: Interest in space — and the potential of collisions with asteroids — has resulted in many educational initiatives. As asteroids become recognized as a possible threat to humanity—with implications for the question of whether or not we will someday need to join together to defend ourselves against an asteroid attack if one turns its spiteful eyes towards Earth—calls for transparency and public engagement regarding planetary defense are starting to emerge.

How Can You Stay Informed?

NASA’s dazzle of discoveries and news on asteroid threats is as easier to access as ever. Here are some ways to keep up:

• NASA’s Official Website and social media: For real-time information about asteroid activity, and some planetary defense news, follow NASA’s official accounts. That agency often reports to the public about near-Earth objects and upcoming space missions.
• Asteroid Tracking Tools: NASA and other space agencies have the public covered with online tools that do just that — tracking near-Earth objects. These platforms allow you to see in real time data on asteroids and their predicted paths.
• Join the Conversation: It can be hard to know where to start with all the groups, forums, and chats about space science and planetary defense. Joining in those conversations will reveal more about the ways that governments around the world are preparing for these potential threats, and the science of monitoring asteroids.

Conclusion:

The asteroid itself is harmless to Earth, but its mission is a milestone in how critical space exploration and planetary defense is. That know you don't have it is a non-provident property asset accomplish clinical implication and risk asset development and their monitoring systems by asteroids and scientist is help with comply with agency of planetary defense and knowledge. The tech systems not only increase the chances we catch one incoming space rock, but also the chances we respond in time to do something about an impact, since that’s basically our only chance at dodging disaster.

Listen always, observe always and be curious about what you’ve learnt.