Tracking Hazardous Space Rocks
NASA monitors thousands of near-Earth objects that cross planetary orbits and exceed 140 meters in diameter, Canal 1 En vivo reported.
Out of more than 34,000 discovered bodies, roughly 2,300 receive strict tracking because their trajectories bring them close to Earth. To merit this classification, technical criteria dictate that an object must have an estimated diameter superior to 140 meters and an orbit that can approach the planet to less than 7.5 million kilometers, or 0.05 astronomical units, which is about 19.5 times the distance between the Earth and the Moon.
Through the absolute magnitude, the object must register a value of 22.0 or brighter, a size capable of causing devastation of regional scale.
Bennu Y Apophis Presentan Riesgos De Impacto Distintos
Bennu carries an impact probability of 0.037 percent for September 24, 2182, according to El Tiempo, with probabilities also cited as 1 in 2,700. La misión OSIRIS-REx permitió traer muestras de este asteroide a la Tierra, lo que ha permitido conocer mejor su composición y su órbita con una precisión fabulosa.
Apophis will pass 32,000 kilometers from Earth on April 13, 2029, earning its “God of Chaos” nickname after causing a stir following its discovery in 2004, coming closer than geostationary satellites. El Tiempo reported that astronomers have completely ruled out any collision during the next century, considering it an astronomical spectacle worth seeing rather than a real threat.
El Asteroide 1950 DA Y La Misión DART De La NASA
The 1950 DA asteroid spans 1.3 kilometers across with a mass of 78 million tons, according to Caracol Radio, and is a true continent-killer potentially high in iron and nickel content. UnoTV reported the Palermo scale value for 1950 DA at -0.98, while its impact probability is 1 in 34,500 calculated for March 2880, which would release large-scale destructive energy.
NASA demonstrated kinetic deflection in 2022 with the DART mission against Dimorphos, as detailed by El Tiempo, proving that a small nudge in deep space could avoid a catastrophe if a threat is detected decades in advance.
| Asteroid | Diameter | Impact Probability | Projected Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bennu | Approx. 490 meters | 0.037% to 0.057% | September 24, 2182 |
| 1950 DA | 1.3 kilometers | 1 in 34,500 (0.034%) | March 2880 |
| 2023 TL4 | 0.33 kilometers | 0.00055% (1 in 181,000) | October 10, 2119 |
The Challenge of Undetected Bodies
While more than 90 percent of near-Earth objects larger than 1 kilometer have been found, only a fraction of those around 140 meters are known.
