Asteroids could pose a grave danger to humanity, and if asteroids, which are very large, collide could question human existence. The renowned space agency NASA shows that “Near Earth Objects” NEOs are asteroids and comets that are influenced by the gravitational force of planets, allowing such objects to entire orbits around our planet. The Near Object Program cooperates with NASA-sponsored efforts pertaining to the detection and characterized comets and asteroids that could be hazardous for Earth if such objects approach the Earth.
According to NASA, “Potentially Hazardous Asteroids” (PHAs) are currently defined based on parameters that evaluate the potential of asteroids to make them significantly close to the Earth, which may be cause for alarm. The PHAs may pose a threat if they collide with the Earth, but in the next 100 years, the likelihood of such collision is very limited if its orbit is well determined.
Therefore, the well-known space agency NASA “Center for Near Earth Object Studies” carefully observes the movement of some asteroids and frequently concurs long-term analysis of the orbits of asteroids, which could have the potential to bring catastrophe if they collide with the Earth. However, effectively monitoring the movement of asteroids is not an easy task since their orbit of them often influenced by the gravitational force of planets and objects, which alter the path of asteroids.
Therefore, the NEO observation program is a pivotal facet of NASAs planetary defense program that enables them to search for unrecognized NEOs utilizing observatories around the globe to calculate and analyze the orbits of NEOs besides evaluating their physical properties and composition. In this article, information about four asteroids, namely Bennu, 2007 FT3, 1979, and 1950 DA, will be provided, which may cause catastrophic impact on Earth.
Bennu
Bennu is a carbonaceous asteroid. It is a potentially hazardous object that is listed on the Sentry Risk Table, and it may pose a significant risk of impacting the Earth; however, there has been no cause for alarm for some years. NASA stated that the chance of Bennu impacting the Earth is between 2178 and 2290, and the estimation that is made by this space agency indicates that Bennu will approach the Earth on Sept 24, 2024. Moreover, the chance of collision of this asteroid to Earth is 1 in 1,750. Bennu will pass 0.005 Astronomical Units au, which is about 750,00 km from Earth on September 2060.
The main question arises if Bennu collides with Earth, what will happen? In the near future, if Bennu collides with Earth, it may pose significant destruction, and the impact of this asteroid would liberate energy that is equivalent to 1.4 billion tons of TNT. As a result, the catastrophic impact of Bennu, if it collides with the Earth, would cause a significant number of deaths and cause regional destruction.
2007 FT3
2007 FT3 is described as a missing asteroid with a short observation arc of around 1.2 days. It has a poorly controlled orbit and has not been seen since 2007. This asteroid has a short observation arc, and the uncertainty in the orbit of the asteroid interacts with Earth’s orbit.
According to one of the renowned space agencies, NASA, the chance of collision of 2007 FT3 with Earth is 1 in 11.5 million on Oct 5, 2024. If such an impact happens in 2007, FT3 would liberate the energy, which is compatible with 2.6 billion tons of TNT, which is not enough to cause global catastrophe, but it may cause regional destruction, and its impact may be slightly higher than Bennu.
1979 XB
Like 2007 FT3, the asteroid called 1979 XB is another lost asteroid that also has a short observation arc of 3.9 days, which cannot be recovered. The 1979 XB was also classified as a “Near Earth Object” NEO and recognized as a potentially hazardous asteroid of the Apollo Group, and it approximate diameter of this asteroid is about 660 meters. The possibility of 1979 XB to hit Earth on Dec 14 2113. The energy which may be liberated if 1979 XB strikes Earth is equal to the 30 billion tones of TNT, which turns out to be greater in compared to the destruction capability of Bennu and 1979 XB.
1950 DA
1950 DA is also categorized as a NEO and also falls under the potentially hazardous asteroid, and its diameter is about 1.3 kilometers. In the year 2002, 1950, DA had the highest Palermo rating with a value of 0.17 and a possibility of 1 in 306 for collision in 2080. Since the year 2002, the estimated risk of collision has been frequently analyzed and updated in order to comprehend the risk associated with the collision of this asteroid with the Earth. If 1950 DA collided with the Earth, it would liberate approximately the energy, which is equivalent to 75 billion tons of TNT, which is enough to cause global catastrophe.
Asteroid impact Risk Assessment
Risk assent analyzes the severity along with the possibility of potential outcomes and provides the level of uncertainty regarding all of the factors that are required to be addressed and mitigated. Asteroid size and density result in a significantly wide range of potential masse along with impact energy. The impact energy of an asteroid is determined by its initial kinetic energy at atmospheric entry and mostly given its units of megatons (Mt) of TNT equivalent.
These are the factors that propelled NASA to implement key basements and respond to the challenges of asteroid impact e and induce the requirements for future simulation and modelling studies to effectively camphene the potential onset as well as the severity of regional along global scale hazards.
FAQ
1. How Does NASA track asteroids?
The renowned space agency NASA shows that “Near Earth Objects” NEOs are asteroids and comets that are influenced by the gravitational force of planets, allowing such objects to entire orbits around our planet. The Near Object Program cooperates with NASA-sponsored efforts pertaining to the detection and characterized comets and asteroids that could be hazardous for Earth if such objects approach the Earth.
2. What asteroid might causing the concern?
Asteroid namely Bennu, 2007 FT3, 1979, and 1950 DA could pose potential threat to Earth.
3. Which would be the potential impact of Bennu if it collide to Earth?
If Bennu collides with Earth, it may pose significant destruction, and the impact of this asteroid would liberate energy that is equivalent to 1.4 billion tons of TNT. As a result, the catastrophic impact of Bennu, if it collides with the Earth, would cause a significant number of deaths and cause regional destruction.