In October, NASA’s Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) discovered two asteroids that were exceptionally large and posed a threat to humankind. As reported in the UK Express and elsewhere, both were nearly three times taller than the Empire State Building and were seemingly heading for Earth.
Scientists named the asteroids “162082” (1998 HL1) and “2019 TR2”. They were the two largest asteroids to approach Earth in almost a year, the last being 2019 EG3, which was discovered on March 4, 2019. Both of the recently discovered asteroids were classified as Apollo asteroids, meaning they have a wide orbit around the Sun. Those wide orbits brought them dangerously close to Earth.
162082 (1998 HL1) is about 1 kilometer wide, and is approaching Earth at a fast 25,000 miles per hour. 2019 TR2, although smaller, at 120 meters, is coming towards Earth at a shocking 31,000 miles per hour and could potentially wipe out cities. Both of the asteroids could potentially collide with Earth if they got too close to it. They also pass around other planets such as Mars, which could also pose a problem. If they got too close, it could also collide with Mars, similarly to Earth.
NASA discovers about 2,000 near-earth asteroids each year. Space objects are classified as “near-earth” when they come within 30 million miles of the planet. 162082 (1998 HL1) came as close as 3.8 million miles at 1:21 pm on October 25. 2019 TR2 was about 4.6 million miles away on October 28 at 10:46 pm.
Although those were both quite close calls, a CNEOS statement made clear that “Earth is safe from these two asteroids.”
With their high-tech computers and new algorithms (such as supercomputer Aitken, which is more powerful and eco-friendly than ever before), NASA is very successful in discovering new asteroids, but that does not stop them from needing more assistance across the globe.
Article by Nina Lingan of Herbert Hoover Middle School
Graphic by Sophia Li of Takoma Park Middle School