{"id":467986,"date":"2024-11-04T02:07:38","date_gmt":"2024-11-04T00:07:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/osr.org\/?p=467986"},"modified":"2024-11-04T04:39:25","modified_gmt":"2024-11-04T02:39:25","slug":"could-an-asteroid-hit-earth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/osr.org\/en-uk\/blog\/astrology-uk\/could-an-asteroid-hit-earth\/","title":{"rendered":"Could an Asteroid Hit Earth?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Asteroids have always been a topic of fascination – and maybe a certain amount of fear! But what exactly are they, and why do they matter? Just as importantly, could an asteroid hit Earth? In this article, we\u2019ll take a closer look at these enigmatic space rocks and check out the odds of one visiting our home planet! We\u2019ll also examine a few of the more famous asteroids that are lurking out there in our solar system.<\/span><\/p>\n

What is an Asteroid?<\/span><\/h2>\n

\"Asteroid\"<\/p>\n

Asteroids are small, rocky bodies that orbit the Sun. They mostly hang out in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. While most asteroids stay at home in this belt, sometimes, they\u2019ll venture closer to Earth, very occasionally sparking a few concerns about potential collisions.<\/span><\/p>\n

Historically, asteroids have played a pretty big role in shaping our planet. The most famous example is the Chicxulub<\/a> asteroid, which struck Earth around 66 million years ago. Most scientists believe that this impact is what caused the mass extinction of the dinosaurs, alongside numerous other species.<\/span><\/p>\n

In more recent history, smaller asteroids have also made headlines. The Tunguska event in 1908 saw an explosion in Siberia, flattening some 2,000 square kilometres of forest. More recently still, the Chelyabinsk meteor in 2013 injured over 1,500 people in Russia.<\/span><\/p>\n

Recent Asteroid Discoveries and Observations<\/span><\/h2>\n

With modern technology, we\u2019ve been able to give our ability to detect and track asteroids a real shot in the arm. And in recent years, astronomers have made a few particularly noteworthy discoveries. For instance, NASA’s Near-Earth Object Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (NEOWISE) has identified thousands of near-Earth objects (NEOs), some of which are definitely worth keeping an eye on!<\/span><\/p>\n

Additionally, the European Space Agency\u2019s Gaia<\/a> mission has provided precise data on the orbits of about one billion astronomical objects. While these are mostly stars, they\u2019ve also made observations on a bunch of different objects, including planets, asteroids, comets, and even quasars.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

These observations are really important for calculating potential future impacts, something that NASA’s Planetary Defense Coordination Office (PDCO) has been overseeing since its creation in 2016. But despite these efforts, we\u2019ve really just scratched the surface. Scientists estimate that we\u2019ve only discovered a fraction of the NEO\u2019s out there, so the work continues to uncover the rest of them!<\/span><\/p>\n

Asteroids to Look Out For!<\/span><\/h2>\n
https:\/\/youtu.be\/t3IO9vEEXvw?si=_Gxgyhuy4FH5HvJP<\/a>