NASA reveals 350-foot-tall asteroid will pass by Earth today; know how close it will be

Like previous months, we’ve seen a number of asteroids fly past Earth in recent weeks. When these space rocks interact with the gravitational field of a large planet like Jupiter, they come close to the planet. This entanglement knocks asteroids out of orbit and sends them hurtling toward planets, triggering potential impact scenarios. Using advanced ground- and space-based telescopes and satellites, NASA has discovered an asteroid that is expected to narrowly pass by Earth today (March 12).

Also read: 5 asteroids will pass by Earth in the next few days

Asteroid 2015 FM34: Details

NASA’s Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) named the asteroid 2015 FM34. The space rock is traveling in its orbit at an astonishing speed of 39,837 kilometers per hour, which is even faster than an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM)! According to NASA, the asteroid will be 7.4 million kilometers from Earth today (March 12).

NASA said that although asteroid 2015 FM34 will approach Earth and is designated a near-Earth asteroid (NEA), it is unlikely to impact the Earth’s surface. That said, it’s quite large compared to other asteroids that fly by Earth frequently. In terms of size, the asteroid is nearly 350 feet wide, almost as big as a building.

Asteroid 2015 FM34 belongs to the Apollo group of near-Earth asteroids, which are space rocks that pass through the Earth and have a semi-major axis larger than the Earth’s major axis. These asteroids are named after the giant 1862 Apollo asteroid, which was discovered by German astronomer Karl Reinmuth in the 1930s.

Also read: What are asteroids and how ESA tracks them

previous method

Asteroid 2024 CL3 has passed by Earth before. It first flew by Earth on April 24, 1946, covering a distance of nearly 72 million kilometers. NASA said that after today, the asteroid will approach again on March 17, 2027, at a distance of 7.2 million kilometers from the Earth. Therefore, it is important to keep a close eye on these asteroids to minimize the uncertainty around their approach.

And one more thing! We can now use WhatsApp channels! Follow us so you don’t miss any updates from the world of technology. ‎To follow the HT Tech channel on WhatsApp, click here Join now!