A Giant Asteroid May Pass by Earth

After 2020 VT4, another asteroid will soon pass near the Earth. On 29th November, an asteroid labeled as (153201) 2000 WO107 will pass away within 4 million km from the Earth. This asteroid first passed in the year 2000, on 29th November. Since then, scientists are tracking this space object.

About Asteroids

The asteroids are rocky remnants that orbit around the Sun. Also known as planetoids, they came into existence during the formation of the Solar System, i.e., about 4 billion years ago. Many of the asteroids lie in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. They are cooler objects, with a surface temperature being less than -73 degrees Celsius. During Jupiter’s birth, any formation of gaps prevented space objects from lying between Mars and Jupiter and colliding with each other. This collision led to the formation of fragments and made asteroids.

Facts related to Upcoming Asteroid

(153201) 2000 WO107 is a Near-Earth Asteroid. The LINEAR Project (Lincoln Near-Earth Asteroid Research Project) firstly discovered this asteroid. NASA’s NEOWISE space telescope had observed this object in the year 2000. Scientists also dubbed it as Potentially Hazardous Asteroid. It is because of the capacity of the asteroid to make close approaches towards the Earth. Still, it will have no impact on Earth due to its well-known orbit. Considering the semi-major axis less than one au (astronomical unit) and aphelion distance more than 0.983 au, (153201) 2000 WO107 is an Atens-type asteroid. It will pass from the Earth at a speed of 56000 mph. It is equal to San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge size with a diameter of 0.51km (1640 feet or one-third of a mile). As per the scientists, after it passes in November 2020, it will return in the year 2040, 2093, and then in 2140. It has a revolution period of 318 days around the Sun.

Steps to Mitigate Worse Scenario

Though this asteroid is PHA, considering its distance from Earth (more than 11 times the Earth-moon), it will not pose any risk. But, NASA will trigger its National Near-Earth Object Preparedness Strategy and Action Plan to observe and monitor the asteroid movement. “National Near-Earth Object Preparedness Strategy and Action Plan” was devised by Detecting and Mitigating the Impact of Earth-bound Near-Earth Objects (DAMIEN) Interagency Working Group (IWG). It addresses the impact of Near-Earth Objects (NEO) for the next ten years. Some of the goals laid under this plan are:

• Detection, tracking, and characterization capabilities.

• Improve modeling, prediction, and information integration.

• Develop technologies for NEO deflection and disruption missions.

• Increase international cooperation on NEO preparation.

Conclusion

It will be the second asteroid to pass near the Earth in a span of 25 days. The asteroid will not be visible from the naked eye. So, scientists will observe the movements using powerful telescopes. Also, it brings an excellent opportunity to study the asteroid during its close approach.

Source: A Giant Asteroid May Pass by Earth