Tonight, an asteroid will approach Earth, the closest ever recorded. This space visitor, called 2020 XR, will pass 2.2 million kilometers above our heads with a speed of 44,300 km/h. Get ready, it will be possible to follow its passage live.
- Asteroid 2020 XR will pass Earth 2.2 kilometers above our heads
- This space visitor is enormous: 360 meters in diameter
- The speed of this asteroid is 44,300 km/h
With a diameter of 360 meters, this enormous asteroid is the closest to pass above the Earth according to NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), which is considering lunar bases made with water-free 3D printed concrete. It will be possible to follow the event live, here’s how.
If you are passionate about astronomy and you are equipped a telescope of at least 20 centimetersasteroid 2020 XR will be visible. Alternatively, it is possible to follow the event live from the Virtual Telescope Project (VTP) website or via the YouTube video below. Everything will be commented on by astrophysicist Gianluca Masi, head of scientific research, from 8 p.m., this December 3.
If we are talking about a dangerous asteroid, is that its trajectory has aroused concern in the scientific community. Astronomers had calculated a possible collision with Earth in 2028 following the discovery of 2020 XR. Since then, precise analyzes have ruled out this risk of impact. But this space visitor is still classified as “highly dangerous” according to NASA criteria. This is a qualifier for any celestial object more than 150 meters in diameter that passes within 7.5 million kilometers of Earth.
The passage of the asteroid will be the most important for the next twelve months. Other major events will take place, notably in April 2029 with the asteroid Apophis. The size of this space visitor is comparable to the Empire State Building with 340 meters in diameter and a passage only 32,200 kilometers from Earth. It will be visible to the naked eye for a few hours.
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