Science

NASA closely monitoring asteroid size of world’s tallest building hurtling near Earth


An asteroid the size of the world’s tallest building is being tracked by NASA as it is set to come close to Earth in September. The asteroid, known as 2000 QW7, is travelling at speeds of more than 23,000km/h. A Nine News Sydney host said: “NASA is closely watching a huge asteroid which is set to come close to Earth next month.

“NASA’s 2000 QW7 is the size of the world’s tallest building, Dubai’s Burj Khalifa, and it’s travelling at speeds of more than 23,000 km/h.

“It will miss Earth by a mere 5.4million km.”

2000 QW7 is estimated to be between 290 meters and 650m in diameter.

NASA’s Centre for Near-Earth Object Studies revealed 2000 QW7 is travelling at a speed of about 14,4000 miles per hour and will pass 3.3 million miles from Earth.

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NASA said in astronomical terms it is going to be a “close call”.

Astronomers don’t believe asteroid 2000 QW7 poses any danger or is likely to strike the planet but NASA’s Centre for Near-Earth Object Studies will continue tracking it.

There is currently an approximate 3,312,944 mile distance between 2000 QW7 and Earth.

NASA estimated the threat level for 2000 QW7 as moderate, so a hit is still possible but not likely this year.

She previously said: “It’s 100 percent certain that we’re going to get hit, but we’re not 100 percent certain when.” She added: “The real issue is that we need to have an inventory of all the asteroids.”

Fortunately, NASA has not yet discovered such an asteroid, estimating that at least 95 percent of asteroids 1km (3,280 feet) or larger have been recorded, with none posing a threat to the planet.

Space rocks as large as 2000 QW7, however, would wipe out an entire city and wreak widespread destruction in a direct collision, according to NASA.

NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine has previously warned about the dangers of an asteroid collision.

While no collision is predicted over the next 100 years he warned it couldn’t be completely ruled out.

NASA’s Mr Bridenstine commented: “We have to make sure that people understand that this is not about Hollywood, it’s not about the movies.

“This is about ultimately protecting the only planet we know, right now, to host life – and that is the planet Earth.”



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