You might have watched a movie where a space object crashes into Earth, leading to the end of the world. What if this comes true as scientists discover an asteroid that could collide with Earth in about 20 years.
Among millions of celestial objects floating in the vast space of our solar system, asteroid 2023 DW stands out as the most dangerous; it is the closest to colliding with Earth. In this article, we will learn about this asteroid and the truth behind the possibility of its collision with Earth.
NASA first observed 2023 DW on 23 February 2023. According to the data released by NASA’s Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS), the asteroid is 50 meters in diameter; it is 22 million kilometers from Earth, noting that the Moon is 380 million kilometer from us. The number 2023 refers to the year it was discovered, the letter "D" indicates that it was discovered in the second half of February, and the "W denotes its sequence in the list of discoveries.
2023 DW orbits the Sun in 271 days; since orbits are not always perfect, scientists are concerned the asteroid might deviate from its path and pass close to Earth. While there is a 0.16% chance it could collide with Earth on 14 February 2046, we can be optimistic and focus on the 99.84% probability that it will pass safely.
Upon its discovery, 2023 DW topped the European Space Agency’s “Risk List” of potentially hazardous objects. Yet, data indicate that even if the asteroid were to collide with Earth, it is not expected to cause a large-scale damage.
The probability of collision depends on several factors, including the size, speed, and formation of the object, as well as the angle of collision. Earth was previously impacted by space objects of similar size. A case in point is an impact that took place 50,000 years ago, leaving behind a giant crater in the state of Arizona in the USA. In 1908, a celestial object exploded before colliding with Earth over Siberia, destroying nearly 2,000 square kilometers of uninhabited land and wiping out millions of trees. It is worth mentioning that an asteroid about 15 kilometers in diameter impacted Earth millions of years ago at a speed of 20 kilometers per second. This event is believed to have led to the extinction of dinosaurs that had dominated our planet for over 150 million years.
Given the technological progress in space sciences nowadays, perhaps the most important question now is: can we prevent celestial objects from colliding with Earth?
In September 2022, NASA launched a spacecraft with a mission to alter the path of a celestial object orbiting another body. None of the two bodies posed any threat to Earth, but the mission was a precautionary test to prepare for defending our Planet if an object ever approaches. NASA announced the mission successful, describing it as the standard model for dealing with any potential threats posed by space objects discovered in the future. Yet, it also clarified that sufficient time—possibly years or even decades—is needed to deflect a possible threat.
NASA later removed 2023 DW from the list of potential hazards; it is no more considered a threat. However, monitoring efforts continues so that we remain prepared to defend Earth. After all, we never know what surprises the sky may hold for us.
References
sciencealert.com
space.com
cneos.jpl.nasa.gov
npr.org
newscientist.com
Image by Freepik.