An asteroid about one kilometer wide will pass “close” to Earth early this Tuesday night (18). The flyover is expected to take place at 18:50 (Brasilia time).
According to NASA, the US special agency, the object, named 7482 (1994 PC1), is expected to pass almost two million kilometers from the planet at a speed of 76,192 km/h, which will make it the closest asteroid to pass Earth in the next two centuries.
This does not translate into a chance of collision with the planet, but only the possibility of observing it.
While 7482 (1994 PC1) is unlikely to be visible to the naked eye, amateur astronomers with a small telescope should be able to spot it, according to EarthSky.com. It is also possible to monitor the trajectory of the asteroid through NASA’s “Eyes on Asteroids” portal.
It won’t be the biggest asteroid that has ever passed Earth. That honor belongs to 3122 Florence (1981 ET3), which flew and did not collide with our planet on September 1, 2017. This asteroid is estimated to be between 4 and 8.4 kilometers wide and will make another pass through here in 2 September 2057.
They are understood to be near-Earth objects, asteroids and comets with orbits that place them 48 million kilometers from our planet.
Detecting the threat of near-Earth objects, which can cause serious damage, is a primary focus for NASA and other space organizations around the world.
*With information from CNN’s Katie Hunt
Reference: CNN Brasil
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