Astronomers are tracking an asteroid named 2023 SN6, sometimes referred to as a “cosmic nomad,” as it makes its way through space and approaches Earth. Although it won’t come dangerously close, the aircraft-sized space rock will pass by our planet at a distance of 4.8 million kilometers on October 4, 2023. While this distance may seem vast, in the realm of space, it’s considered relatively close.
According to NASA’s data, Asteroid 2023 SN6 is hurtling through space at an astonishing speed of 30,564 kilometers per hour. Despite its proximity, NASA’s Centre for Near Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) has not classified this asteroid as a potentially hazardous object.
Asteroid 2023 SN6 belongs to the Apollo group of Near-Earth Asteroids, named after the 1862 Apollo asteroid discovered by German astronomer Karl Reinmuth in the 1930s. These asteroids are remnants from the early days of our solar system and often exhibit tumbling and spinning motions, influenced by the momentum of their formation.
NASA has been actively monitoring asteroids to ensure Earth’s safety from potential catastrophic impacts. In 2022, NASA initiated the Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission as part of its planetary defense strategy. The mission involved crashing a spacecraft into the asteroid Dimorphos, altering its course and trajectory, thus demonstrating our capability to deflect potentially hazardous objects.
While Asteroid 2023 SN6 is not considered a threat, its passage near Earth serves as a reminder of the ongoing efforts to track and safeguard our planet from celestial wanderers.
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