KUALA LUMPUR – An asteroid, equivalent in size to a skyscraper, will come within a distance of 2.7 million kilometres of earth today.
According to a news report by The Guardian, this phenomenon is deemed non-threatening as it does not pose any danger to the earth.
“This is because it is expected to pass our planet at a distance seven times greater than the earth-to-moon distance,” it added.
Nasa’s Centre for Near Earth Object Studies estimates that the space rock measures between 210m and 480m in diameter.
This means that the asteroid could be comparable in size to iconic structures such as New York City’s Empire State Building or Chicago’s Willis Tower.
Discovered in 2008, the asteroid is designated as 2008 OS7. It will not return to earth’s vicinity until 2032; however, this encounter will be significantly more distant, as it is expected to remain 72.4 million km away.
The harmless flyby is one of several encounters scheduled for this week.
Three significantly smaller asteroids, each no more than tens of metres across, will also pass harmlessly by earth today, with two more following tomorrow.
On Sunday, an asteroid approximately half the size of 2008 0S7 will make a close approach, maintaining a distance of 7.24 million kilometres. – February 2, 2024