Asteroid Measuring Over One Mile Across Headed on Journey Near Earth

Posted: May 26, 2022 9:29 am

It is possible that you may be able to spot an asteroid soaring past the Earth on May 27. The gigantic asteroid is on a path to make a journey past the planet that is much closer than these objects normally travel.

Diving Into Details of Asteroid 7335

Asteroid 7335 (1989 JA) measures 1.1 miles across, translating to nearly 6,000 feet. This is approximately equal to a size that is four times bigger than the Empire State Building. The asteroid is expected to pass close to the Earth, however, experts do not expect it to make an impact.

In order to be considered a potential danger, an asteroid needs to measure at least 460 feet across while coming within 4.6 million miles of the Earth. Asteroid 7335 will come within 2.5 million miles of the Earth, putting it in this category. The asteroid is one of 2,265 designated by NASA to be a possible hazard.

Asteroid 7335 was first discovered on May 1, 1989. When it soars within 2.5 million miles of the Earth, it will be the closest that it has come since its discovery and the closest it will get until at least the year 2194. While that may seem like a significant deal, keep in mind that this distance is still over 10 times farther than the distance between the Earth and the moon.

How to Spot the Asteroid

The relatively close flyby will provide the chance for scientists to learn more about the asteroid. It will also be a fun opportunity for stargazers to try to find it as it makes its close journey.

While May 27 will be the peak viewing opportunity to spot the asteroid, it has already been found by some that have been looking closely. You will need a telescope to find the asteroid since it is not bright enough to be spotted with the naked eye. Astronomers will find the asteroid in the southern sky hurtling near the constellation Hydra.

Potential Hazards of Asteroids

The revelation of Asteroid 7335 nearing the Earth has many people wondering what would happen if a rock of this magnitude did hit the planet. Although there have been asteroids that have impacted the Earth in recent history, none of these landings have been by asteroids the size of this particular rock.

The most recent major meteor to affect the Earth was the Chelyabinsk meteor that exploded over Russia as it burned through the atmosphere. This explosion happened in February of 2013, creating a force that was significantly greater than an atomic bomb. The Chelyabinsk meteor only measured 65 feet across, a small size when compared to Asteroid 7335.

In June of 1908, an asteroid measuring about 200 feet across exploded in the skies over Siberia. The force of this explosion, known as the Tunguska event, flattened about 1,300 square miles. Fortunately, the explosion happened over a remote forested area.

Astronomers say that the impacts of a potential asteroid strike would largely depend on where the object entered the atmosphere. Because the majority of the planet is covered by water, it is likely that the asteroid would not enter over land. This would be the best possible outcome for mitigating the loss of human life. However, the heat triggered by an asteroid explosion over water would create substantial changes to the global weather patterns.

A large asteroid exploding over land would create a different set of circumstances, particularly if the impact happened over an area that was densely populated. The good news is that there is no immediate threat of this type of calamity. NASA is continuously monitoring space for potentially hazardous asteroids. The agency is also working on ways to redirect a potential asteroid should they identify one on a crash course with the planet.

Sharing is caring. Did you find this content useful? Feel free to bookmark or to post to your timeline for reference later!

Recent Posts