The European Space Agency and NASA give the alert.
This Saturday, March 25, a large asteroid will pass “very close” of the earth, passing about 174,650 km from the surface of our planet. Scientists named it “2023 DZ2”. The European Space Agency (ESA) calls it “City Killer” (“city destroyer” in French), because given its size, it could not completely disintegrate if it were to touch the Earth, being able to cause an impact strong enough to destroy an entire city.
Visible in the sky this Saturday evening
However, the near-Earth flyby will pose no risk to Earth, but will provide an opportunity for astronomers to study the celestial object. And it will also be a spectacle for enthusiasts who will scan the skies in search of the asteroid. “2023 DZ2” will be visible from France around 8:50 p.m. this Saturday evening.
“2023 DZ2” moves at about 28,000 kilometers per hour. It is estimated that he has a diameter between 40 and 90 meters. “2023 DZ2” is part of the Apollo group of asteroids, which includes celestial bodies potentially dangerous to Earth.
A newly discovered #asteroid named 2023 DZ2 will safely pass by Earth on Saturday at 100K+ miles away. ud83cudf0e
While close approaches are a regular occurrence, one by an asteroid of this size (140-310 ft) happens only about once per decade, providing a unique opportunity for science.
— NASA Asteroid Watch (@AsteroidWatch) March 21, 2023