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World News
Key facts about Asteroid near Earth
Here are 8 key points about Asteroid 2014 TN17 and why it’s being closely observed.
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Size and Speed:
Asteroid 2014 TN17 is approximately twice the size of the Taj Mahal and speeds at an incredible speed of 77,282 km/h.
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Safe Distance:
NASA revealed that it will pass Earth at a distance of 5 million km, which is 13 times the distance between Earth and the Moon.
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Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA):
Despite the safe distance and other parameters, it's considered a PHA. There is a chance of a future risk if its orbit deviates.
Apollo Group Asteroid:
This is said to belong to the Apollo family of near-Earth objects, which are known to cross Earth’s orbital path often.
Risk of Orbital Shift:
A slight change in its trajectory, caused by any factor like gravitational forces or collisions with space debris, could possibly bring it closer to Earth in the future.
Monitoring Efforts:
NASA’s Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) and other global agencies are tracking the asteroid using advanced telescopes and radar systems.
Impact Consequences:
If an asteroid of this size were to collide with Earth, it could release energy equivalent to hundreds of nuclear explosions, causing destruction and climate disruption.
Historical Context:
The 1908 Tunguska event in Siberia, which flattened 2,000 square kilometers of forest, was caused by an object half the size of 2014 TN17.