Two giant asteroids are approaching Earth within a few days - one was considered "potentially dangerous"
Created: 02/19/2022, 12:18 p.m
By: Marcus Giebel
Attention, approaching asteroid!
Two space rocks are getting in touch with the earth these days.
© IMAGO / agefotostock
Two asteroids pass the earth in quick succession.
Because of their immense size, an impact would have extreme consequences.
But the all clear has already been given.
Munich - astronomers are in great excitement.
Because within a few days two asteroids are approaching the earth.
The first is the size of the Empire State Building, the second has the dimensions of a football field, as the US space agency NASA announced.
The flyby of asteroid 2022 BH7 is already forecast for this Friday.
The monster from space has a diameter of 380 meters and could cause serious damage if it hits the ground.
Asteroid 2022 BH7: It will come closest to Earth on Friday evening
However, the
Jerusalem Post
, citing NASA, reports that no effects will be felt on the planet because the asteroid, which can travel up to 80,000 kilometers, will only approach within 2.9 million kilometers.
For comparison: the moon orbits the earth at a distance of 384,000 kilometers.
The shortest distance between Earth and 2022 BH7 is expected around 10:45 p.m. German time.
Just four days later it's the turn of the 1999 VF22.
Also because of its immense size, this space rock was classified as "potentially dangerous".
In the meantime, however, it is certain that he also keeps a respectful distance from the blue planet, which will not result in any impairments.
This is 5.3 million kilometers - more than 14 times the distance between the earth and the moon.
The asteroid is said to approach the closest at 8:54 a.m. German time.
Video: Would humanity stand a chance if an asteroid hit Earth?
Asteroid 1999 VF22: Space rock orbits the Sun every 549 days
1999 VF22, which orbits the Sun every 549 days and is said to be up to 431 meters in diameter, has a speed of more than 90,000 kilometers per hour on Tuesday, according to Space References.
The asteroid will only come as close to earth as it does on this day around the year 2150 - which at least no living person will notice anymore.
Incidentally, an impact of one of the space chunks on earth would have devastating consequences.
The
Jerusalem Post
cites a study by the Davidson Institute of Science, part of Israel's Weizmann Institute of Science, according to which an asteroid 140 meters in diameter would release an amount of energy at least 1,000 times greater than that of the first atomic bomb.
2022 BH7 and also 1999 VF22 could therefore wipe out an entire continent.
So it's all the better that both keep their distance.
(mg)
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