According to calculations by NASA astronomers, today the world could be hit by an asteroid the size of an Olympic swimming pool.
According to the space agency, this could potentially cause serious damage.
Still, Terje Wahl, director of subjects at the Norwegian Space Center, can reassure you that on closer inspection, you often find that these things won’t collide after all.
at the top of the risk list
Just over a week ago, NASA discovered an asteroid about fifty meters in diameter with a possible trajectory towards us.
Then the asteroid climbed directly to the top of the European Space Agency (ESA). existing On potentially dangerous objects with the direction of the earth.
It is said that 400 people were injured when a meteorite struck central Russia in 2013.
little chance
What are the consequences of such a coincidence?
– An asteroid with a diameter of 50 meters is by no means something we want in our area, but the chance that these bodies will collide with us is very small, Wall replies.
This is confirmed by the European Space Agency, which estimates the chance of chance as 1 in 652 of actually hitting Earth.
Wahl says such a coincidence can lead to significant material damage and, in the worst case, death.
– But this is nowhere near a civilization-destroying asteroid, like the one that killed the dinosaurs, he explains.
In 2013 at the latest, an asteroid 20 meters high fell over Russia.
Not abnormal
According to Wahl, it’s not unusual for various space agencies around the world to discover objects that likely have an orbit toward our little blue planet.
—and then they shot to the top of this risk list before, and upon further investigation, it turns out they crossed the mark anyway and then they’re being moved downhill, he says.
– Nothing you want
Wahl explains that asteroids come in different sizes. From a few small meters to several large kilometers.
– Many may remember the one that fell on Russia a few years ago. It smashed windows and injured several people. It was twenty meters, so if that’s fifty meters, that’s not something we want between us and the moon,” he replies.
In a post on Twitter, NASA wrote that it will continue to follow the asteroid on its journey through space. Obviously, the estimated trajectory today can change constantly.
“Infuriatingly humble internet trailblazer. Twitter buff. Beer nerd. Bacon scholar. Coffee practitioner.”
