"Potentially dangerous" .. "a huge asteroid approaching Earth ... and" NASA "issues a statement

It is expected that on Sunday March 21 this year, about two million kilometers from Earth, an asteroid will pass the largest one approaching it in 2021 without the risk of colliding with it, but this astronomical event will allow scientists to closely study this celestial body, according to a statement by the US space agency NASA On her Twitter account.

The agency assured that the "danger" of the asteroid colliding with the planet does not exist, as at its closest point, it will remain at a distance of more than five times the distance between the Earth and the Moon.

However, it remains close enough to be classified as "potentially dangerous," according to the official categories.

This asteroid is called "2011 FO32", and its diameter is less than a kilometer, and it will pass at a speed of 124 thousand kilometers per hour, which is "faster than most asteroids" that pass near the Earth.

This asteroid was discovered in March 2001, and its trajectory has been monitored since then.

On March 21, an asteroid named 2011 FO32 will safely pass by Earth, with its closest approach being a distance of about 1.23 million miles.

There is no threat of a collision with our planet now or for centuries to come.

👍 Rest easy & read more: https://t.co/na2mCSqjjQ pic.twitter.com/GEEfwzWniW

- NASA (@NASA) March 11, 2021

"Not much is known about this object at the moment, so its close passage gives us a great opportunity to learn a lot about it," said Lance Penner, a scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, which affiliates it with the Near-Earth Objects Center.

Researchers will be able, for example, to get a better idea of ​​the composition of the asteroid by studying the light reflected from its surface.

"It is assumed that astronomy enthusiasts in the southern hemisphere and at low northern latitudes will be able to see this asteroid using medium-sized telescopes," the center's director, Paul Chodas, said in a statement.

"NASA" assured that none of the known large asteroids will hit Earth in the next century, and it is also unlikely to do those that have not been discovered yet.

But she added, "The more information we gather about these crimes, the better we can prepare to deport them in case one of them threatens the Earth."

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