An Asteroid (ग्रहिका /గ్రహ శకలం) called "52768
(1998 OR2)"at 3.26 p.m.
IST on 29th April,
2020 will have “Closest Approach to earth” passing at a distance of 0.42
AU i.e. 62,90,364 km. Which is 16
times of the distance between Earth and Moon. This is the closest for this
asteroid can get to earth in next 59
years. The size of this asteroid is
estimated to be 1.8 km - 4.1 km. And
it’s moving at speed of 8.7 km/sec.
This asteroid was discovered on 24th
July 1998 by Haleakalā High
Altitude Observatory, Hawaii and is
Categorized as NEO (Near-Earth Object) and PHA (Potentially Hazardous
Asteroid).
On 27 Apr
2020 in Live Broadcast NASA Scientists stated there is no chance for this space rock hitting the earth. However, in Corona times the social media is abuzz with videos creating
fear and impact of this asteroid with Earth. And it also became an object for
fear-mongering by some doomsayers.
Revolution/Rotation
– Sun – Closest Approaches Details of 52768 (1998 OR2): Presently this
asteroid revolves around Sun once in
every 1344 Days i.e. 3.68 years.
After 2020 the next time this asteroid will have the closest approach to Earth is in 18th
May 2031 at 0.12 AU (i.e. 1.9 Crore Km). Whereas the last time it came
close to earth was in 12th March 2009
and was at 0.17 AU (i.e. 2.6 Crore km)
from Earth. Prior to 2009, this asteroid had the closest approach to Earth only in the year 1950 on 30th May at a distance
of 4.6 Crore km. Whereas compared to
2020 approach it will be more closer in 16th
April 2079 traveling a distance of 17,72,652
km (0.011 A.U.) from the earth.
How Far
or Close it is – Moon: On an average Moon is located at 384,402 km from Earth which is roughly is equal to 1
LD. So this ASTEROID 52768 (1998 OR2) is predicted to pass at 0.04205 AU or 16.36 LD. Which
means this asteroid will pass 16 Times of the distance between Moon and Earth.
Not visible to Naked Eye – Telescopes: on day of its closest
approach it will shine at 11 Magnitude
so this asteroid is not visible to the naked eye but can be spotted with the help of
Astronomical Telescopes
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