NASA warning message: Two gigantic asteroids are heading towards earth
New Delhi : NASA scientists have warned that two gigantic asteroids is heading towards earth on November 20, 2018. The first asteroid, 2018 VQ6 will have its close approach at around 07.29 AM GMT, while the second space body, Asteroid VP7 will make its close flyby at 07.49 AM.
Preliminary examination conducted by NASA reveals that VQ6 will measure somewhere between 12 meters to 35 meters in diameter. On the other hand, Asteroid VP7 is estimated to measure somewhere between 12 meters to 28 meters in diameter.
Scientists believe that the first asteroids will reach its closest possible distance to Earth at around 0.02931 astronomical units (AU) and the second cosmic body will have its close approach at 0.01961 AU. It should be noted that one astronomical unit equals about 92.95 million miles, and it is actually the distance between the earth and the sun.
As these space bodies are making its close approach at around 2.72 million miles away, experts have classified these asteroids as 'Near Earth Object' (NEO). Even though a distance like 2.72 million miles is very big in terms of human, it is very close in terms of astronomy.
"As they orbit the Sun, NEOs can occasionally approach close to Earth. Note that a "close" passage astronomically can be very far away in human terms: millions or even tens of millions of kilometers," NASA says.
As per NASA, asteroids of comet on an orbital path around the Sun of around 1.3 AU or 120.8 million miles can be considered a Near Earth Object.
It was a few days back that Dr Iain McDonald, a scientist at Cardiff University's school of earth and ocean sciences revealed that earth will be inevitably hit by a gigantic space rock one day or the other. The scientist made these remarks while talking on the BBC's Today programme.
During the conversation, McDonald claimed that devastating events including asteroid hits had happened throughout history, and such events may occur in near future.
Meanwhile, a section of conspiracy theorists claimed that the arrival of these asteroids could be an indication of Nibiru's collision course. As per these conspiracy theorists, Nibiru alias Planet X is a rogue ninth planet that is lurking at the edge of our solar system. It is believed that Nibiru will one day hit the earth resulting in an apocalypse.
Stay tuned with Newsheads for more information on asteroids.
