A massive asteroid “be close” to Earth Christmas – Yahoo Sports

By M6 Info | M6info –

2003 SD220. No, it is not there the name of a droid of “Star Wars” but rather that of an asteroid all that is most real and who is about to “graze” the Earth. Specifically, this monster of space 700 meters long pass near our planet blue on 24 December. But in space, everything is relative: 2003 SD220 continue his path in the cosmic vacuum at a distance equivalent to 28 times that which separates us from the Moon

“Not an object. risk “

No to worry so even if an asteroid of this size would be quite capable of destroying an entire city if by chance he crashed on our soil. A scenario that falls, for now, the domain of science fiction. Maria-Antonietta Barrucci, astronomer at the Observatory of Paris, says indeed AFP that this big space rock “is not on our list of objects at risk.”

Apophis in 2029

It was not until later in 2029 that another asteroid passes near Earth. And it is already identified: it is Apophis, a name given in reference to the eponymous god of Egyptian mythology, representing evil forces and night. Despite this surname unprepossessing, again, no risk. While Apophis will approach much closer to us than 2003 SD220 – at a distance about 10 times less than that separating Earth from the Moon or 30,000 km – Maria-Antonietta Barucci says there is no nothing to worry about.

A collision every 100,000 years

And for those who would definitely afraid the sky is falling on our heads, specialists declare that no danger is to be feared at this level in the coming years. The astronomer at the Paris Observatory, however, tempers: “You have to think, to work, keep looking objects, and especially study the dangerous asteroid deflection technology and test, to be ready on D-Day.”

It is not tomorrow that humanity will suffer the same fate as the dinosaurs. Indeed, the scarcity of collisions between a space object of more than one kilometer long and the Earth is no longer in doubt. It is estimated that such a meeting happens once every 100,000 years. What celebrate Christmas with peace of mind.

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