Apparently, on Friday the 13th there is a record of asteroids closest to Earth

Bisnis.com, JAKARTA – The mystery of Friday the 13th in 2020 became even more tense when it was discovered that an asteroid was approaching Earth, with the closest record distance on that day. In fact, NASA was not even aware of its existence.

The space rock, with the name 2020 VT4, is very close to our planet on Friday the 13th. Although this date is considered unfortunate for some, the Earth is lucky this time. Observations show that the asteroid flew over our planet at a distance of only 250 miles (400 kilometers).

For comparison, the Moon averages 238,855 miles from Earth.

Astronomers missed the closest approach to 2020 VT4 and the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) survey and only saw it as it was moving away from our planet. The reason is because the asteroid is in a “blind spot” in astronomical terms, ie from the direction of the Sun.

Because it is so close to our planet, astronomers claim that the gravitational pull of the Earth changes the orbit of the asteroid.

“The newly discovered asteroid A10sHcN approached Earth yesterday, passing only a few hundred miles above the South Pacific Ocean.” This encounter is shortening its orbit, ensuring that this Earth passerby will get closer, “said astronomer Tony Dunn quoted by Express.

The asteroid is between five and 10 meters in size, so even if it collides with our planet, it will burn in the atmosphere.

This is a record for the closest approach to an asteroid, beating the previous record set earlier this year. Previously, the 2020 asteroid HQ, which was about the size of a car, arrived just 2,000 miles from our planet on August 16.

Although the likelihood of a large asteroid hitting Earth is small, NASA believes there is a one in 300,000 chance each year that a space rock could cause damage to Earth.