NASA Predicted Giant Asteroid May Strike Earth

Summary

The video discusses the potential threat of asteroids, particularly focusing on the near-Earth object Bennu, which could collide with Earth in 2182. It highlights the importance of monitoring these celestial bodies and the challenges in observing them due to the sun's glare and Earth's atmosphere. The Dark Energy Camera is introduced as a tool for detecting asteroids in the inner solar system.

Takeaways

• 🚀 Hundreds of millions of rocks, known as asteroids, orbit the sun within the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.
• 🌍 NASA classifies asteroids that orbit within 30 million miles of Earth as Near-Earth Objects (NEOs), with some posing significant threats.
• 👀 NASA is closely monitoring an asteroid named Bennu, which has a potential to collide with Earth in 159 years.
• 🏙️ Asteroid Bennu is considered a 'potentially hazardous asteroid' due to its size and close proximity to Earth, even though the current risk of collision is low.
• 🔬 Bennu, a carbon-rich asteroid, is believed to hold precious clues to the origin and development of the rocky planets in our solar system.
• 🛰️ In 2012, NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission successfully touched the surface of Bennu to collect samples, marking the first mission of its kind.
• 👀 Another asteroid of concern is 99942 Apophis, which was initially identified as one of the most dangerous asteroids ever detected.
• 🛡️ After careful examination, astronomers have ruled out the risk of Apophis colliding with Earth for at least a century.
• 💥 The impact of an asteroid larger than 0.6 miles across can be catastrophic, hence the importance of tracking and understanding their orbits.
• 🔍 Detecting and tracking asteroids is crucial for planetary defense, yet our capabilities are not yet fully developed.
• 🌌 The Dark Energy Camera at the Cerro Tololo Interamerican Observatory in Chile is being repurposed to aid in the search for near-Earth asteroids.

Q & A

What is the asteroid belt and where is it located?

The asteroid belt is a region in our solar system that contains hundreds of millions of rocks, located between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter.

What does NASA define as a near-Earth object?

NASA classifies asteroids that orbit within 30 million miles of our planet as near-Earth objects (NEOs).

Why is the asteroid named Bennu of particular concern to NASA?

Bennu is of concern because it is a fairly large asteroid with a potential to collide with Earth in 159 years, as per expert estimates.

What is the estimated date of a possible collision between Bennu and Earth?

If a collision occurs, it might happen on the 24th of September, 2182.

How does the size of asteroid Bennu compare to a well-known structure on Earth?

Asteroid Bennu is thought to be taller than the Empire State Building.

What is a gravitational keyhole and why is it significant in the context of asteroid Bennu?

A gravitational keyhole is a region of space that could set an asteroid on a certain path, potentially resulting in a collision with Earth. Bennu has a tiny chance of passing through such a keyhole during its flyby in the 22nd century.

What is the current estimated probability of Bennu impacting Earth by 2182?

The current estimated probability of Bennu hitting Earth by 2182 is 1 in 2700.

What is the significance of asteroid Bennu being carbon-rich and how does it relate to the origin of life?

Bennu being carbon-rich is significant as it may contain organic molecules similar to those crucial for life to evolve, providing precious clues to the origin and development of rocky planets in our solar system.

What is the OSIRIS-REx mission and what did it achieve?

OSIRIS-REx is a NASA mission that managed to briefly touch the surface of asteroid Bennu, collect samples, and propel them off the space rock for further study.

Why is it important to detect and track asteroids larger than 460 feet in diameter?

Asteroids larger than 460 feet in diameter are large enough to wipe out an entire city if they impact Earth, making their detection and tracking crucial for planetary defense.

What challenges do astronomers face when searching for asteroids in the inner solar system?

Astronomers face challenges such as the sun's glare creating a bright background glow and Earth's atmosphere distorting observations, making it difficult to spot faint asteroids near the sun.

How does the Dark Energy Camera help in the search for asteroids in the inner solar system?

The Dark Energy Camera, designed for wide and deep observations, helps astronomers fight the bright twilight sky and the distorting effect of Earth's atmosphere, making it well-suited for spotting faint asteroids near the sun.