[ad_1]
The tiny VT4 2020 is unlikely to have caused any damage if it entered Earth’s atmosphere.
The asteroid 2020 VT4, between five and 10 meters in diameter, was less than 400 km South Pacific last Friday at 17:20 (UTC).
In this way, the object broke the record for the approach of celestial bodies of its kind to our planet. Previously, the closest asteroid was 2020 HQ, which flew 2,950 km from Earth on August 16.
As with the 2020 HQ, 2020 VT4 was not detected until it was already moving away from our planet. It was first sighted only on Saturday, about 15 hours later of its maximum approximation.
The newly discovered asteroid A10sHcN approached Earth yesterday, passing only a few hundred miles above the South Pacific Ocean. This encounter shortened its orbit, ensuring that this Earth cruiser will make more frequent approaches.pic.twitter.com/XrnKiiGTyJ
– Tony Dunn (@ tony873004) November 14, 2020
Such a situation is not uncommon among fast asteroids that pass through blind spots towards the Sun, as happened on this last occasion. At the same time, it indicates that if an asteroid of that size were directed directly to Earth, it would most likely disintegrate in the atmosphere, without causing any damage. Therefore, it is believed that the asteroid that fell near Chelyabinsk (Russia) in 2013 was 20 meters in diameter, the portal adds.
If you found it interesting, share it with your friends!
[ad_2]
Source link
