The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) revealed on Twitter that the asteroid 1994 PC 1, which scientists have been studying for the past decade, will pass by Earth today, January 18th.
NASA has classified the stony asteroid 1994 PC1 as a near-earth Object and potentially hazardous asteroid in the Apollo group.
The link to track the asteroid’s course was supplied by NASA.
You may keep track of it at https://eyes.nasa.gov/apps/asteroids/.
It was found on August 9, 1994, at the Siding Spring Observatory in Coonabarabran, Australia, by astronomer Robert McNaught.
“The near-Earth #asteroid 1994 PC1 (one kilometre wide) is well-known and has been examined by our #PlanetaryDefense experts for decades. “Relax, 1994 PC1 will safely fly past our planet 1.2 million miles distant next Tuesday, January 18,” stated the post.
NASA said that on Tuesday at 4.15 ET, this massive asteroid known as 7482 or 1994 PC1 will make a close appearance that is around 1.2 million miles away from our planet.
This giant asteroid will be visible by a good telescope. Apart from that one can watch this asteroid on their gadgets via the NASA Eyes on Asteroid portal. This can also be tracked on Virtual Telescope Project’s website.
Twitteratti has been worried whether this asteroid will hit Earth. NASA has confirmed that the 1994 PC1 will fly past the earth. However, empirical understanding confirms that asteroids and meteorites have earlier hit the surface of earth and there is a possibility the same could happen tomorrow.
NASA has confirmed that this asteroid will come the closest to Earth for the next two centuries. The 1994 PC1 is supposed to fly past Earth with a speed of 47,344 miles per hour at a distance of 1.2 million miles away from Earth.