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Asteroid 2021 SG, which flew over Earth undetected on September 16, was reportedly spotted by a future telescope used to detect such dangerous space rocks, NASA insisted.
Known as the Near-Earth Object Surveyor (NEO Surveyor) space telescope, the spacecraft would “probably” have spotted the asteroid in another part of its orbit and earlier in its path to Earth, Paul Chodas, director of the Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS), DailyMail.com said.
Asteroid 2021 SG sped past Earth 153,000 miles on September 16, a distance of about half that of the Moon. It was not detected until September 17.
This space rock is between 138 and 308 feet in diameter, or larger than a football field and roughly the same size as the State of Liberty.
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“Due to its much greater sensitivity compared to current asteroid readings, NEO Surveyor would likely have detected this asteroid in another part of the asteroid’s orbit, when the asteroid was further from the direction of the sun. “Chodas said in an email.
Asteroid 2021 SG reportedly detected by NASA’s Near-Earth Object Surveyor space telescope, agency insists
Asteroid 2021 SG is between 138 and 308 feet in diameter, larger than a football field and roughly the size of the State of Liberty
There are more than 26,000 near-Earth asteroids, according to NASA, although only 10,000 of them are over 140 meters in length.
There are more than 26,000 near-Earth asteroids, according to NASA, although only 10,000 of them are over 140 meters (450 feet).
Although it has passed Earth by less than 0.05 astronomical units (AU), asteroid 2021 SG is smaller than the 460 feet in diameter needed for it to be considered “potentially dangerous,” according to NASA .
Nonetheless, it is four times the size of the space rock that disintegrated above Chelyabinsk, Russia on February 15, 2013.
This stone left 1,500 injured and caused a shock wave that shattered the windows of six Russian cities.
The asteroid was not initially detected because it follows a “very eccentric orbit” which extends from the orbit of Mercury to the asteroid belt, beyond the orbit of Mars
Chodas said 2021 SG was not initially detected because it follows a “very eccentric orbit” that stretches from the orbit of Mercury to the asteroid belt, beyond the orbit of Mars.
“For the past few months it has been on the outgoing part of its orbit and it has approached Earth last week from the general direction of the Sun,” Chodas added.
“This asteroid was positioned in the daytime sky as it approached Earth. Once it passed, however, it flew through the night sky, became easily visible to our asteroid readings, and was quickly detected.
Asteroid 2021 SG was also flying over Earth at a speed of over 53,000 mph, according to EarthSky.org.
Had it entered Earth’s atmosphere, it would have produced a “huge, very impressive meteor,” the organization noted, adding that its closest approach was Canada and Greenland.
Now, had it entered the atmosphere, it would probably have caused significant destruction, given that Canada has a population of over 37 million.
The launch of the NEO Surveyor spacecraft is scheduled for 2026.
It will be positioned between the Earth and the sun to better spot space rocks – such as 2021 SG – that currently cannot be spotted due to their position in space.
Astronomers are looking for asteroids over 450 feet as they can cause “catastrophic damage”
Researchers have discovered most asteroids that are around a kilometer in length, but are now looking for those that are around 459 feet (140 m) – because they could cause catastrophic damage.
While no one knows when the next big impact will occur, scientists have found themselves under pressure to predict – and intercept – its arrival.
Artist’s impression on the photo
“Sooner or later we will have … a minor or a major impact,” said Rolf Densing, who heads the European Space Operations Center (ESOC) in Darmstadt.
This may not happen in our lifetime, he said, but “the risk that the Earth will one day be affected by a devastating event is very high.”
“At the moment, there is not much we can do. ”
Source: AFP
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