A potentially hazardous asteroid is moving towards earth, the NASA‘s Centre for Near-Earth Object Studies said. Dubbed as 1998 OR2, the asteroid has been categorized as ‘a potentially hazardous object’. For the uninitiated, there are approximately 125 objects that have been categorized as potentially hazardous. According to America’s space agency, a flying object is classified as ‘potentially hazardous’ when it comes within 19.5 times the distance of the earth and moon.
But there is nothing to worry about as it will fly past the surface of the earth. So our earth is safe as it will not hit any part of its surface.
According to reports, the flying object will pass the earth from a distance of 6.29 million kms. The size of asteroid 1998 OR2 is expected to be somewhere between 1.5 kms and 4.1 kms (0.9 miles and 2.54 miles) in diameter.
Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico closely monitoring asteroid 1998 OR2
The movement of the asteroid is being closely monitored by the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico. According to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the asteroid will be closest to earth on Wednesday at around 5:56 AM Eastern Time which is approximately 3:26 PM IST (Indian Standard Time).
The speed of the asteroid with which it is moving towards the earth with a massive speed of about19 thousand km/h. But we need not worry as it is not touching the surface of the earth
How to watch the asteroid 1998 OR2
This astronomical phenomenon cannot be viewed with naked eyes and requires a telescope for this purpose. But those interested to see the phenomenon can watch live stream of it on the Virtual telescope.
