NASA: Asteroid 2016 NF23 Potentially Hazardous to the Earth

NASA says a 500-foot wide asteroid is approaching Earth and can be potentially hazardous. The asteroid was given the designation 2016 NF23 and is traveling at about 20,000 miles per hour. This speed is faster than the speed current rockets travel. It is estimated that the asteroid will be closest to the Earth on August 29, 2018.

The asteroid is a bit larger than the Pyramids at Giza, Egypt. Even at this size, the asteroid can pose a great threat to life on Earth. At the speed it is traveling, it can cause a catastrophic collision that can cause atomic-like shock waves that can wipe out cities and cause dust to block the Sun in the atmosphere which will bring plant life to die and those that depend on it.  This will be a chain reaction of death which is believed to what have caused the extinction of the dinosaurs.

However, there is no need for alarm. Asteroids like this pass by Earth all the time.  Many times, they are not even noticed until they have already passed by!  Earth is protected by the larger planets Jupiter and Saturn. Their large masses allow for a stronger gravitational pull which slings asteroids away from the Earth.





Source:

https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/sbdb.cgi?sstr=2016%20NF23&orb=1

https://www.newsweek.com/nasa-says-500-foot-wide-asteroid-approaching-earth-potentially-hazardous-1087509?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter&utm_campaign=NewsweekTwitter

https://metro.co.uk/2018/08/23/nasa-spacecraft-prepares-for-close-encounter-with-huge-asteroid-that-could-hit-earth-next-century-7874962/?ito=article.amp.share.top.twitter

https://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/world-news/725687/nasa-news-asteroid-space-rock-2016-nf23-great-pyramid-of-giza-in-egypt

https://www.thesun.co.uk/tech/7101910/potentially-hazardous-asteroid-bigger-than-statue-of-liberty-heading-for-earth/

https://www.space.com/41618-asteroid-2016-nf23-no-threat-to-earth.html