There is a hurling asteroid heading towards the Earth, but the good thing is it will only pass by in the middle of the planet and the Moon, with a close trajectory to the home world. The asteroid known as 2023 DZ2 has approximate sizes and capabilities to destroy cities should it hit the planet, but astronomers say that it will only fly by this weekend.
Knowing that the public is safe, this would be a great opportunity for skywatchers to look into the skies and spot the asteroid, as it would be close enough to see with binoculars or small telescopes given the right region to search for it.
Asteroid 2023 DZ2 is Coming to Fly-by this Weekend
The asteroid 2023 DZ2 is estimated to be between 140 and 310 feet in diameter, has been classified as a Near Earth Object (NEO), and is capable of causing significant damage if it were to impact the Earth. It is also dubbed a "city killer" due to its destructive power and proximity.
According to NASA's Asteroid Watch and Center for Near Earth Object Studies (CNEOS), asteroid 2023 DZ2 will make its closest approach to Earth on Friday, March 25.
According to AP News, it will give researchers and astronomers the chance to study the asteroid closely, as its passing by would only be as far as 100,000 miles, less than half the distance of the Earth to the Moon.
No Asteroid Threats Despite Destructive Power
While asteroid 2023 DZ2 is classified as a potentially hazardous asteroid due to its size and proximity to Earth, scientists say that there is no cause for alarm. The asteroid's trajectory has been carefully monitored, and it poses no threat to the Earth or the Moon for this year's passing, as well as its 2026 Valentine's Day return.
Even though the asteroid is passing by safely this time, the incident highlights the importance of monitoring NEOs and developing plans to mitigate the potential damage from an impact. While the chances of a catastrophic asteroid impact are relatively low, the consequences could be catastrophic for an asteroid of its size.
Asteroid Flybys in the Past
There are significant flybys in the past, and they pose a massive threat to the planet NASA has watched closely to see if it has any chance of hitting the Earth and causing destruction to the world. It is known that the Earth gets many visitors in the form of different space rocks and the like, and it is common as space is still highly unpredictable, with much to learn about.
These asteroids' closeness to the planet when passing by depends on their trajectory, something which NASA systems and other space agencies track. There was one elephant-sized asteroid previously passing by the planet in close proximity, and fortunately, it went on its way upon zipping past the planet instead of entering it.
NASA and its astronomers will take this as a learning opportunity for the Planetary Defense actions it would take against asteroids that bring danger to the planet. The planet is safe from asteroid 2023 DZ2 and this would be a sight to see once it passes by but also serves a purpose for the future of everything on Earth.
