The size of a football field: a “potentially dangerous” asteroid is approaching Earth

The size of a football field: a “potentially dangerous” asteroid is approaching Earth

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Asteroid 2002 AY1 with a diameter of up to 386 meters is flying towards the Earth.

The celestial body will fly by the Earth on January 8, reports Space Reference with reference to data from the American space agency NASA.

The distance from the asteroid to the Earth is 5.8 million kilometers, and the speed of movement is 17,339 km/s.

Judging by its brightness and the way 2002 AY1 reflects light, it is likely between 0.172 and 0.386 kilometers in diameter, making it a small to medium-sized asteroid about the size of a football field“, the message says.

PHOTO: RTyre/Depositphotos

2002 AY1 is classified as a “small asteroid” whose orbit could bring it close to Earth. It is called a “potentially dangerous object”. According to NASA standards, potentially dangerous asteroids are those that exceed 140 meters in size, and their proximity to the Earth is about 7.5 million kilometers.

We will remind you that earlier we wrote about the last asteroid approaching the Earth in 2022.

Read also: From dawn to dusk: NASA’s rover reveals 12 hours on the Red Planet

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