NASA is monitoring the trajectory of a large asteroid moving at high speed, approaching Earth’s orbit in the coming weeks, but the likelihood of a collision is very low.
According to Mirror, a massive asteroid named 2021 NY1, which is three times the size of the Statue of Liberty, is expected to pass near Earth’s orbit in September. This is one of 17 space objects being tracked by the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) due to their close trajectory to our planet.
3D simulation of the current position of 2021 NY1 in the Solar System. (Image: Theskylive).
2021 NY1 has a diameter of approximately 130-300 meters, while the Statue of Liberty in New York City stands at 93 meters tall and can reach speeds of over 32,000 km/h. Therefore, it is considered a large-sized asteroid.
However, there is no need to worry about 2021 NY1 colliding with Earth. According to scientists’ estimates, the asteroid will pass about 1.5 million kilometers away from us, nearly four times the distance from Earth to the Moon.
Another asteroid being monitored by NASA, which is smaller but also classified as large, is 2021 QC1. It has a diameter ranging from 71 to 160 meters and will fly about 4.8 million kilometers from Earth.
In early August, NASA announced new findings about a greater threat from a space object. A study revealed that asteroid Bennu could potentially collide with Earth sometime between now and the year 2300.
Since 1999, NASA has been tracking the trajectory of Bennu. It is one of the two most dangerous asteroids in the Solar System and poses a threat to human life.
After ruling out several influencing factors, scientists estimate that the highest probability of Bennu colliding with Earth is 1 in 2,700, occurring on September 24, 2182.
