Earth is preparing for a close encounter with a massive asteroid larger than the famous “Empire State” building in New York City (consisting of 102 floors) within days.
NASA is observing the space rock and has revealed that it will “get close” to us from the perspective of space.
Fortunately, the asteroid will still be more than 3.5 million miles away, so there is no reason to panic.
Astronomers believe that the width of the asteroid ranges between 220 and 490 meters. As tall as possible, this would make it larger than the Empire State Building (a 102-storey skyscraper in New York City), the Shard in London (total height of 310 m, number of floors 101) and the Eiffel Tower in Paris (313.2 m in height). ).
expressive
The space rock, officially known as 388945 (2008 TZ3), is expected to make its closest approach to Earth on Sunday, May 15.
But this is not the first time we have seen this asteroid, as it has passed before without any problem.
His last visit was a 2008 TZ3 in May 2020. In that time, he approached us at a distance of 1.7 million miles.
It is noteworthy that the asteroid visits Earth routinely about every two years, as it orbits around the sun just as we do.
And his crossing this weekend will be the closest to us for the rest of our lives. It is scheduled to pass again in May 2024 but much further than that, at a distance of 6.9 million miles.
The next time the 2008 TZ3 will come as close to Earth as it does this weekend, is in May 2163.