If you think a blast of arctic air the nation is facing these last few days is a big deal, then consider an asteroid, estimated to be more than twice the size of the Empire State Building, passing by Earth.
According to NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the massive asteroid 7482 (1994 PCI), which is believed to be approximately 1 kilometer in weight, will come within 1,231,184 miles Earth by Jan. 18.
The asteroid was discovered in August 1944 and is now classified as an “Apollo asteroid” — meaning that its orbit crosses the Earth’s, and its axes are slightly larger — has also been classified as “potentially hazardous” for its “potential to make threatening close approaches to the Earth,” according to NASA.
Experts believe this will be the closest an asteroid has been to Earth since January 17, 1933 when NASA predicted it would come within 700,000 miles. CBS News reported.
According to the space agency, it is possible that the asteroid will pass again in July. However, this time, at a much greater distance.
After the two exciting episodes, the next anticipated time the asteroid is ready to fly by Earth at such a close distance is not until January 18, 2105, when it is projected to come within 1,445,804 miles, CBS reported.
The fact that an asteroid is heading our way over the next week may be unsettling for some but, scientists at NASA said there are more than a million known asteroids, and said it is not ‘uncommon’ for many to fly by Earth, a report said.
In fact, on Wednesday and Thursday this week, scientists said there are at least five asteroids zooming by the planet, including one the size of a bus and three the size of a house, according to NASA.