In May, rumors began to spread about an asteroid that might fall on Earth on October 3rd and could destroy the world. In fact, many people are calling it the end of the world. However, NASA clarified that there is very little chance of this happening and that there is no need to worry.
The asteroid we are talking about is the "2007 ft3". It has a diameter of 340 bodies. It was discovered in 2007 thanks to NASA running an association called Center for the Detection of Near-Earth Objects. This was the one that detected this body clarified that there is 0.000092% chance that it will impact the Earth. Although the chance of impact is very low it is important to continue monitoring it in case it gets too close.
In an interview with Bede’s, Gustavo Boado, who works at ARSAT as a Flight Dynamic Manager said: “The chance is approximately 1 out of 10 million. But it is difficult to estimate that probability exactly because there is very little accurate data to determine its trajectory. However, we can sleep peacefully”. Asteroids are detected with large telescopes. This type of observation requires a great opening (to collect a lot of light) and a large visual field (to explore a significant part of the sky in an observation). The orbital observatories are free of atmospheric distortions and that gives them the possibility of having very high resolutions, but here there is no problem of resolution but of magnitude. “They cannot be detected with small telescopes. It is difficult, because they have very high magnitudes. You would also have to distinguish it from other objects, and calculate the trajectory to know if it has any chance or not of impacting the Earth, or even if it is directed to this side. No amateurs have the equipment to make these observations”, Boado explained.
NASA scientists continue to claim that on a scale of 0 to 10 the possibilities would be 0 since it would pass 420,000 km from the Earth. Some speculated that it could impact the moon but it would also be impossible because it could pass approximately 36,000 km from the moon.
Other asteroids that threaten the Earth
Other scientists consider that this “2007 ft3” is not the only asteroid that could fall on Earth during the next few years. One of those is the 2006 QV86. This measures 31 meters however the possibilities are very few. The distance of the asteroid from the Earth could be 420.000 km.
There are about 1000 NEOs. (Near Earth Objects) and this reinforces the possibility that in the coming years one will impact. In fact, in recent years innumerable falling meteors have been reported.
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