Thread by @BiIndia

No other #asteroid is going to get closer to #Earth in the next decade than the one set to fly by on September 1 - by @pabsgill

businessinsider.in/science/space/…

Many #asteroids come and go but most keep their distance from Earth as they fly past. Now one daring #asteroid is set to come closer to the planet — closer than even the #Moon on September 1.

Officially recognized as #Asteroid11ES4, the space rock will be a mere 121,000 kilometers (kms) from #Earth as it shoots past the planet next week. The #moon, on the other hand, is three times further away at 384,400 kms.

In fact, #Asteroid11ES4 will be the only near-Earth object to venture in this close for another decade. Only in 2032 will another asteroid — 2008 DB — come within the same distance of Earth.

Not only is this a milestone for the planet, but it’s also the asteroid’s closest encounter to Earth till date. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) database shows that the asteroid has made eight close approaches since 1987 but none as intimate as next week.

Before its fly by next week, #Asteroid11ES4’s closest approach to #Earth was on 13 March 2011, which is when it was first spotted by astronomers and catalogued.

The #asteroid does not pose a threat to #Earth. Even if it did, the space rock is only between 22 metres to 49 meters in diameter — approximately the size of a plane. If it were to break through #Earth’s atmosphere, it would likely burn up on the way down.

As the #asteroid makes its fly by, it will be travelling at 29,376 kms per hour.