In case you didn’t realize this, a massive asteroid — deemed as a “potentially hazardous object” — flew by Earth on Tuesday, according to USA Today.
NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory showed the asteroid — named 2021 KT1 — flew about 4.5 million miles outside of Earth, which is considered a relatively close encounter with our planet.
- The asteroid is reportedly 600 feet in size, which is about the same size as the Space Needle in Seattle, according to USA Today.
The NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory said the asteroid was considered a “potentially hazardous object” because it was bigger than 492 feet and came within 4.6 million miles of the planet.
- NASA reportedly kept a close watch on the asteroid, according to USA Today.
CBS News reports that there was “no chance of the asteroid hitting Earth.” But researchers often keep an eye on these asteroids to help them research ways to deflect them if they were going to make a huge hit on Earth.
More asteroids fly by Earth
Asteroid 99942 — which was about the size of the Golden Gate Bridge — flew past Earth on March 21, as the Deseret News reported.
Two teenagers in India discovered that an asteroid is making its way toward Mars’ orbit right now. But it will change paths and head toward Earth in 1 million years, according to CNN. It’s unlikely to actually hit us, though, as I wrote for the Deseret News.