The space rock, known as 2000 EM26, poses no threat and passed the Earth at just under nine times the distance to the moon. Though, it is defined as a potentially hazardous Near-Earth Asteroid (NEA) that was large enough to cause significant damage in the event of an impact.
- This was subtle reminder of the dangers of the asteroid impacts just one year after historic event took place on February, 2013.
- A previous-unknown discovered asteroid exploded over Chelyabinsk,Russia and injured 1200 people and sent shock waves shattering windows and damaging buildings in Chelyabinsk.
About Near Earth Asteroid (NEA) 2000 EM26
- Size: As big as three football fields (270m).
- Speed: Approx 12.37 km/s.
- Minor planet category: Aten asteroid (NEO, PHO).
- Minimum possible close approach distance to Earth: 0.018 AU (27 lakh km).
- Tracked by: Slooh robotic telescope service, Spain (that provided internet access to automated observatories).
Nasa’s Asteroid Redirect Mission (ARM)
- First-ever mission to identify, capture and redirect an asteroid.
- Plans to use capabilities of the new Orion spacecraft and Space Launch System rocket and high-power solar electric propulsion to capture an asteroid in the near future.
Till now, 10,713 known near-Earth objects are discovered.
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