A large asteroid, 1997 NC1, about three times the height of CN Tower stacked on top of each other, is expected to pass close to Earth this weekend at its nearest point since 1600. The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) says it poses no risk to our planet.
According to experts, asteroids are small rocky or metallic bodies that orbit the sun, and most are found in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. Large asteroids, however, can be a significant threat, potentially causing mass extinctions.
The asteroid 1997 NC1 will pass by Earth at a distance of 2.5-2.6 million kilometers, which is about six times farther from Earth than the moon. To put it into perspective, if the Earth were shrunk down to an orange, the asteroid would still be passing just 20 meters away.
Astronomers believe this event will provide valuable scientific opportunities to study the asteroid’s size, shape, and composition. The Canadian Space Agency says Canadians can see the asteroid in parts of Canada on June 27, but may need a small telescope to spot it.
While some express concerns about climate change, scientists emphasize that asteroids like 1997 NC1 pose no threat to our planet this time.
Source: https://globalnews.ca/news/11940282/large-asteroid-earth-canada