A potentially dangerous asteroid miraculously veers off course
Many celestial bodies fail to collide with Earth every day. In order to prevent this kind of tragedy from occurring, observation teams have been created to scan the sky day and night in search of asteroids. Thus, during one of these observations, a dangerous celestial body has been discovered. Fortunately, according to the latest news, the threat is potentially averted.
Indeed, the discovered object is an asteroid of which the diameter is around 50 meters. It has been named 2021 QM1 and researchers first detected it at Mount Lemmon Observatory on August 28, 2021. Based on its trajectory, estimates predicted a likely collision in 2052.
In addition, the scientists behind this discovery want to reassure the general public on the pretext that the observations continue to be made. One of the best weapons to achieve this is the Very Large Telescope.
The collision with the asteroid is probably avoided
To follow up on the multiple observations, the scientists were able to deduce that there is a 0% chance that 2021 QM1 will meet Earth in 2052, as originally planned. Its orbital trajectory will therefore cause no inconvenience in the foreseeable future.
Surprisingly, this asteroid is not the first to be removed from the list of dangerous objects after a suboptimal blocking maneuver by another celestial body. And for good reason, in February, researchers had to cross off another asteroid from the list after the Moon hampered observations. It should be noted that the famous celestial body of 70 m could have caused more damage than the QM1 of 2021.
In view of all these elements, the most logical question was to know the reactions of men if the Earth comes to be the imminent target of an asteroid. To answer this question, researchers have developed plans that are just as ingenious as each other. However, the scientific community wishes to reassure the general public that this risk of collision is low, since the observations will always continue.
Other impacts have nevertheless taken place in the past
Although daily observations are carried out, it is not uncommon to hear of collisions between a celestial body and the earth. By way of illustration, the last destructive impact the earth experienced took place in Tunguska. In reality, the asteroid during its encounter with the blue planet released no less than 12 megatons of energy.
Fortunately, the affected area is located in an unpopulated area of Siberia. However, three victims were declared and most of a forest in the area was pulverized.
SOURCE: SCIENCEALERT
