Is a Hidden City-Killer Asteroid Racing Toward Earth? What You Need to Know!

A recent warning from a space agency leader suggests that a dangerous asteroid could be flying toward Earth without our knowledge. This comes on the heels of asteroid YR4, which was a near miss that could have caused significant damage.

Currently, there’s a risk that another asteroid, potentially as large as YR4, is lurking in our blind spot—particularly in the direction of the Sun where our current technology can’t see. The European Space Agency (ESA) is aware of this challenge and is taking steps to enhance our detection capabilities.

Luca Conversi, an ESA scientist, emphasizes the importance of being prepared. “There is a chance something like YR4 is heading our way from the Sun, but we can’t track it,” he said. The last significant asteroid to evade detection until it was too late was the Chelyabinsk meteor in 2013, which injured around 1,200 people when it exploded over Russia.

Reflecting on how we could have been better prepared, Luca shared, “The Chelyabinsk meteor was a wake-up call for everybody.” It underscored our inability to spot incoming threats, particularly from the Sun’s glare. Despite advances in technology, scientists still find it challenging to observe and track near-Earth objects.

To combat this issue, the ESA plans to deploy advanced telescopes. One notable project is the Neomir telescope, designed to detect asteroids using infrared technology, allowing us to see hidden objects too close to the Sun. Another initiative includes a network of Fly Eye telescopes, designed to scan the night sky and identify potential threats.

Experts estimate that there are millions of near-Earth objects floating in space, yet we’ve only identified about 40,000. Most of those are larger than one kilometer; however, many smaller asteroids remain undetected. As Luca pointed out, we have only identified fewer than one percent of objects about the size of YR4.

The fear surrounding asteroid threats is not unfounded. The risk of asteroid impacts, like that of YR4, occurs about every 20 years on average. While YR4 now has a low chance of striking Earth—less than two percent—it’s a reminder of the dangers that can emerge from the depths of space.

The ongoing advancements in detection technology are our best hope for spotting these city-threatening asteroids before it’s too late. The industry remains focused on improving our observational tools to better safeguard our planet from unexplored cosmic dangers.

For a detailed look at asteroid threats and prevention measures, check out the ESA’s resources on planetary defense here.

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Section: Tech:Science,Earth,NASA,Science,Space and astronomy