A mighty asteroid known as 2008 EV5 will come close to Earth today, as reported by NASA. Astronomers and experts at NASA are paying attention to this asteroid because of its significant size and potential threat to our planet. Comparable in size to the Empire State Building, the asteroid with an estimated width of about 335 meters could have catastrophic consequences in the event of a collision with Earth, especially in densely populated areas. Fortunately, however, the asteroid will remain at a certain distance, estimated at about 6.3 million kilometers from Earth. Although this may seem like a considerable distance, in astronomical terms, it is relatively close considering the size of the asteroid.
Asteroid 2008 EV5 is moving towards Earth at a staggering speed of 19,243 km/h. Combined with its massive size, NASA has classified it as a potentially hazardous asteroid and has listed it among close approaches to Earth.
This gigantic space rock belongs to the group of Aten asteroids, which are near-Earth asteroids (NEAs) with an axis smaller than Earth and cross Earth’s orbit. These types of asteroids are named after the original asteroid Aten, discovered by American astronomer Eleanor Helin in 1976.
Although our telescopes help us monitor and track these dangerous cosmic objects, the threat of a collision with an asteroid is a constant reminder of the potential dangers lurking in space. Continuous research and vigilance are necessary to ensure the safety of our planet from these ancient celestial visitors.
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The source of the article is from the blog krama.net