A rocky body of large proportions will pass close to our planet next Saturday (27). The European Space Agency (ESA) informs that the celestial object can be seen with the help of small telescopes or even binoculars.
The space organization emphasized that the asteroid, discovered in July 1997 and cataloged as (152637) 1997 NC1, does not pose any risk of collision with Earth.
Juan Luis Cano, from ESA’s Office of Planetary Defense, stated that “the approach of an object of this size to Earth only occurs every few years.” He also highlighted that the presence of a bright and nearby Moon could make observation difficult at the closest point to the asteroid.
According to ESA data, the asteroid has an estimated diameter of between 750 and 1650 meters, based on its ability to reflect sunlight (which varies from 5% to 25%). However, other sources indicate that this reflectivity can reach up to 60%, which would indicate a possibly smaller size than initially calculated.
The space agency details that the meeting with Earth is scheduled to take place at 8:14 am, Brasília time. At that moment, the asteroid will be at a distance equivalent to 6.66 times the separation between the Earth and the Moon, that is, more than 2.5 million kilometers.
Understand the nature and classification of an asteroid
Asteroids are celestial bodies mostly composed of rock or metal, generally small. They are mainly found in the asteroid belt, between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter, although some can approach or even cross Earth’s orbit. By definition, its diameter is greater than one meter.
Space rocks smaller than asteroids are classified as meteoroids, which become meteors when they enter the Earth’s atmosphere. On the other hand, asteroids with enough mass to acquire a spherical shape due to their own gravity are called dwarf planets, Pluto being a notable example.
These rocky bodies preserve the original materials that formed the planets of our Solar System. Unlike Earth’s rocks, which have been modified by geological processes and erosion over eons, asteroids remain in their pristine state.
Monitoring space objects with potential risk
There is an additional reason to deepen knowledge about asteroids, and also comets: the proximity they can reach in relation to Earth. These objects, designated as Near-Earth Objects (NEOs), are between 3 meters and 40 kilometers in diameter and are continuously monitored by the Center for Near-Earth Object Studies, at NASA (United States space agency). Their orbits, which are elongated or elliptical, allow them to move up to 195 million kilometers away from the Sun, but also bring them dangerously close to our planet. Although the chance of a major collision is considered relatively low, the potentially devastating impact of these bodies warrants constant monitoring.