Produced by: Tarun Mishra Designed by: Manoj Kumar
In a startling revelation, NASA has issued a grave warning about a previously dubbed "lost asteroid," identified as 2007 FT3, which poses a significant threat of colliding with Earth in 2024, according to the latest estimates.
According to a report by WION, NASA's vigilant efforts in tracking potential hazards from space include monitoring over 32,000 known near-Earth asteroids (NEAs) and more than 120 short-period near-Earth comets (NECs), emphasizing the organization's commitment to Earth's safety.
First identified in 2007, asteroid 2007 FT3 perplexed scientists as it deviated from its trajectory, leading to a loss of tracking. With a mere 1.2-day observation arc, attempts to locate it have been unsuccessful since its initial discovery.
NASA's Center for Near Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) has calculated a substantial probability that 2007 FT3 might collide with Earth as early as October 2024. The numerical estimate stands at 0.0000087 percent, reflecting a 1 in 11.5 million chance of impact.
Assessing the potential consequences, NASA suggests that a collision with 2007 FT3 could unleash energy equivalent to the detonation of an alarming 2.6 billion tons of TNT. Two plausible impact scenarios in March and October 2024 highlight the risk of regional destruction, without causing global damage.
Delving into the specifics, NASA quantifies the likelihood of an impact in March 2024 at 0.0000096 percent, translating to a 1 in 10 million chance. While statistically low, the severity of potential consequences underscores the necessity for sustained monitoring and preparedness.
Beyond 2007 FT3, NASA remains vigilant in tracking various asteroids with potential impact risks. Notably, asteroid 29075 (1950 DA) is flagged as the second-highest risk on NASA's list, holding a 0.0029 percent chance of impact on March 16, 2880.
NASA's comprehensive assessments outline that an impact from these asteroids could result in substantial regional destruction, although the scale of impact is not projected to extend to global proportions.
NASA projects a potential impact date for 2007 FT3 on October 5, 2024. However, this prediction remains subject to updates as scientists continuously monitor and refine their understanding of the asteroid's trajectory.
NASA stresses the ongoing importance of diligent monitoring and preparedness efforts to mitigate the potential impact of asteroids. This underscores the imperative for sustained research and advancements in space observation technology to safeguard against potential cosmic threats.