Jakarta –
Some time ago, the world was shocked by rumors of a giant asteroid the size of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France, hitting the Earth. The rumor also states that the time this happened was October 5, 2024.
Widely discussed, NASA (Aeronautics and Space Administration) responded to these rumors. They said there was no need to worry because it was only a prediction on a scale of 1 in 11 million.
This means that NASA’s Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (JPL) has identified 89 potential impacts resulting from the presence of this giant asteroid called 2007 FT3. One of them is a collision that occurred on October 5, 2024.
However, they further explained that one of the potential collision points did not occur directly on Earth but was at its closest point to Earth. This prediction was issued in 2019, but the collision did not occur.
To learn more about asteroid 2007 FT3, let’s take a look at several interesting facts cited by CNN Indonesia at Unilad, Thursday (4/1/2024).
3 facts about asteroid 2007 FT3 as big as the Eiffel Tower
1. The missing asteroid
One of the nicknames given to asteroid 2007 FT3 is the lost asteroid. This celestial object was first discovered in 2007 but remained visible for only 1.2 days until it finally disappeared from NASA observations.
Asteroid 2007 FT3 is up to 314 meters long. This size is compared to the Eiffel Tower which is 330 meters high.
If it hit Earth, this lost asteroid would release 2.6 billion tons of TNT. That’s about 2,600 megatrons of TNT or about 48 Tsar Bombs exploding.
The Tsar Bomba was the largest nuclear bomb and most powerful nuclear weapon in history possessed by the Soviet Union.
2. Denied by NASA, will not hit Earth
Through IFL Science, NASA and other observatories continue to track various near-Earth celestial objects measuring 140 meters or more. It is said that such a large object could cause destruction if it collided with Earth.
One thing you may notice is that astronomers predict that no object measuring more than 140 meters will have a significant chance of hitting Earth in the next 100 years. Therefore, asteroid 2007 FT3 is also not on the radar for a collision with Earth in the next century.
“There is no known threat of an asteroid impact hitting Earth in the next century. NASA and its partners diligently scan the sky to find, track and classify asteroids and near-Earth objects (NEOs), including those that they could get closer to Earth,” a NASA spokesperson said.
Crucially, large objects will be easy for astronomers to detect and anticipate. So, if asteroid 2007 FT3 is on radar, it should be well known and understood for years or decades.
UNILAD further explained that the chance of asteroid 2007 FT3 hitting Earth on October 5, 2024 is very small. This date is considered very specific, although the impact could occur between 2004 and 2116.
The asteroids and other currently known objects closest to Earth are called NEAs/NEOs. NASA estimates that there are 32,000 NEAs/NEOs and about 120 comets that will pass near Earth in the next few hundred years.
3. Asteroid 2007 FT3 is not the largest
Although it is believed to cause a lot of damage, the largest asteroid that could hit Earth is not 2007 FT3. But asteroid 29075 (1950 DA) is capable of ending all life on Earth as a whole but there are no further predictions about it.
Another theory about an asteroid that could hit Earth involves the planet Jupiter. Yes, the largest planet in the solar system.
Not directly, Jupiter is thought to act as a shield for the Earth. However, the asteroid hit Jupiter directly.
After impact, the impact could reach Earth. Even so, the impact may not be too harmful to life on Earth.
So, these are 3 facts about an asteroid the size of the Eiffel Tower hitting Earth in October 2024. Don’t panic and make sure it’s real, come on, detikers!
Watch video “Scientists in England begin examining samples from asteroid Bennu”
(det/gas)
2024-01-04 05:30:00
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