Potential danger for the Earth is represented by cosmic bodies approaching the planet at a distance equal to less than 8 million. When passing an object at such a small distance, the probability of their entry into the Earth's gravitational field is high.
Asteroids, which are large in size, pose a particular threat, since the probability of their complete destruction when passing through the atmosphere is minimal. Below is a list of space travelers whose approach to the Earth can cause a worldwide apocalypse.
Apophis
Discovered in 2004 by an asteroid, the diameter of which circle is 300 meters, and the mass is more than twenty seven million tons, relatively recently considered a particularly space traveler. According to data obtained by scientists, the maximum risk of collision of an object with the planet Earth was in 2036. When passing through the Earth in 2013 at a distance of 14 million km, the asteroid changed its trajectory, which minimized the risks of the disaster.
Despite the fact that the danger of approaching Apophis to our planet is minimal, scientists have determined the likely consequences of its fall to Earth, which can be compared with the explosion of several atomic bombs.
2007 TU24
In 2008, the asteroid TU24, discovered a little earlier, approached our planet at a distance of 550 thousand km. The diameter of this celestial body is 250 meters, the brightness is 12 magnitude, which makes it possible to see during the maximum approximation to the blue planet, even with medium-power telescopes.TU24 poses a potential danger to the Earth, since the trajectory of this celestial body crosses the orbit of our planet approximately once every three years. The next maximum approach of the space traveler is expected in 2027.
Duende
The dimensions of the asteroid Duende, discovered by scientists in 2012, are relatively small - the circumference of the celestial body does not exceed 30 meters, and the mass is about 40 thousand tons. The studies have allowed scientists to identify that the orbit of a space traveler is in resonance with the Earth. That is, the period of revolution of the asteroid around the Sun is equal to one year. The above facts characterize Duende as an object that threatens the inhabitants of our planet.
In addition, it is not possible to determine the behavior of a celestial body in the foreseeable future. However, before the beginning of 2020, the risks of disaster are no more than 1:14 000, which is extremely small.
2005 YU55
After the discovery of the asteroid YU55, which was discovered in 2005, this celestial body was recognized as potentially dangerous to the Earth. The circumference of this asteroid is 400 meters. Its distinctive feature is an elliptical orbit, which excludes the possibility of accurately determining the trajectory of movement and behavior of the object.
At the end of 2011, YU55 approached the Earth at a critically small distance of 325 thousand km, which gave scientists the opportunity to assume a high probability of its entry into the atmosphere. The surface of the asteroid has an abnormally black color, which is the reason for its late detection. In view of this feature, it bears the status of an “asteroid - invisible”.
Eros
Opened in 1898, Eros is one of the first cosmic bodies discovered by man. This giant has an alarming size of 33:13:13 km. The shape of the celestial traveler somewhat resembles peanuts, that is, the gravity on it is distributed unevenly, which does not exclude the possibility of changing the orbit. Despite the fact that the probability of a collision of a celestial body with the Earth is extremely small, scientists determined the shock potential of this object.
According to the calculations obtained as a result of research, the consequences of an asteroid collision with the surface of an inhabited planet will be more global than after the disaster, which, according to a number of hypotheses, led to the sunset of the dinosaur era.
2001 WN5
WN5, discovered at the end of 2001, an asteroid, is regarded as an object of higher degrees of danger. Today, the celestial body itself, as well as the trajectory of its motion, are studied superficially, which excludes the possibility of predicting the behavior of the asteroid. According to preliminary data, the size of this space traveler is about one and a half kilometers. According to the hypotheses of experts, in 2028 a celestial body will pass from the Earth at a critical distance of 250 thousand. By cosmic standards, this value is extremely small.
2013 TV135
This cosmic body, which has large dimensions - about 400 meters in diameter, is characterized as the most dangerous object for the planet and its population. Discovered by astronomer Gennady Borisov in the Crimea using a makeshift 20 cm telescope.The maximum approach of the giant to our planet will take place in August 2032, it will sweep at a distance of 4 thousand from the Earth. The probability of a collision of celestial bodies is no more than 1 chance to 63,000. However, the data obtained are preliminary, when refining the orbit, the figures shown can significantly change both to a smaller and a larger side.
Scientists observing asteroids and their behavior, calculating sizes and orbits makes it possible to assess the degree of danger of celestial bodies to the Earth and determine the likelihood of space travelers colliding with our planet. The presence of even potential threats is a prerequisite for the continuous monitoring of asteroids that are particularly dangerous and the development of plans for their destruction.
