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Аото автора Kaique Rocha: Pexels
An asteroid is approaching Earth at a distance less than the Moon’s distance from us, at a speed of more than 33,000 miles per hour, as astronomers have confirmed that it will make tonight “a very close approach, but It is safe”.
The asteroid, officially identified as 2020 HX3, was discovered by the Pan-STARRS survey on April 19, according to astrophysicist Gianluca Massi of the “Virtual Telescope” project in Italy. Dr. Massey photographed the asteroid, while it was still 1.1 million km from Earth. Since then, NASA has confirmed the speed and orbit of the asteroid around the sun.
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Now, the asteroid is expected to be as close to Earth as it is today at 8.38pm GMT.
Dr. Masi said: “Later today, April 24, 2020, the 2020 HX3 asteroid will achieve an excellent but safe approach for our planet, where it is located at a distance of approximately 250 thousand km, much closer to the distance of the Moon to Earth. ” The moon is 384,400 km, on average, from Earth.
The image, taken by Massey, is characterized by a bright spot of light that crosses a blurred field of stars.
The HX3 asteroid is relatively small, no more than 78 feet wide, and poses no threat to Earth.
Source: Express
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