It is the largest asteroid to pass “very close” to Earth in 2021. This Sunday, the meteorite is about two million kilometers away from us at 5 p.m.
Called 2001 F032, the asteroid will give astronomers the opportunity to observe a “rock monument born at the dawn of our solar system”.American Space Agency.
This will allow astronomers to better analyze the size of the asteroid and its albedo, i.e. the ability to reflect the brightness and light of its surface.
The astronauts point out that the rock mass must be visible because the amateur lives in the southern hemisphere and is equipped with a telescope at least 20 cm in diameter.
NASA says there is no risk of a collision between our planet and the asteroid today or in the future.
Paul Sodas, director of the Center for the Study of Near-Earth Objects (CNIOS), commented that “it is unlikely to get close to two kilometers”, which is still classified as “dangerous” because of the size and distance of all asteroids.
At 124 000 km.
Scientists must travel at 124,000 km / h at this rock mass, “faster than most meteorites approaching Earth”.
The last asteroid to go very close to the planet was April 29, 2020. Note: 2001 F032 will be three times closer to Earth than last year.
According to NASA forecasts, we will not be close to meeting this large rock again: its arrival near Earth is not expected until 2052, at which time the U.S. 2.8 million km from
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