According to the Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS), the asteroid known as Asteroid 2023 XY is expected to pass closely to Earth today, December 7. As NASA telescopes track new near-Earth asteroids (NEAs), astronomers measure the positions of the observed asteroids in the sky and report them to the Minor Planet Center. According to NASA, the Center for Near Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) then used this data to determine the most likely orbit of the asteroid around the Sun. Using this method, learn details about asteroid 2023 XY, such as its speed, size, and approach distance.
Asteroid 2023 XY: Details
This near-Earth space rock is expected to pass Earth at a distance of only 5.5 million kilometers and at a speed of 29,840 kilometers per hour, much faster than an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM)! It is important to note that although it has been named a near-Earth asteroid due to its short travel distance, it is not expected to actually impact the planet.
It is included in the group of near-Earth asteroids, namely near-Earth asteroids that intersect Earth and have a semi-axis larger than Earth, said NASA. This asteroid is named after the large asteroid Apollo of 1862, which was discovered by German astronomer Karl Reinmuth in the 1930s.
How big is the asteroid?
NASA has not classified asteroid 2023 XY as a potentially dangerous asteroid. Only celestial bodies larger than 492 feet that pass Earth at a distance closer than 7.5 million kilometers are characterized this way, and Asteroid 2023 XY does not meet any of these requirements. In terms of size, the width of Asteroid 2023 XY is almost 20 meters, so it is almost as big as an airplane.
According to NASA, asteroid 2023 XY has never passed Earth before and this will be its first close approach. After today, Apollo group asteroids are not expected to fly past the planet anytime soon.
2023-12-07 05:52:04
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