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FP trendOctober 20, 2020 1:07:36 PM
A few days ago, renowned astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson sent out a word of warning, speaking of a “refrigerator-sized space rock” approaching Earth and was going to wipe out our planet on November 2, the day before the presidency of the United States. elections.
The tweet has managed to create curiosity among netizens about the ‘Election Day Asteroid’ and the damage it could bring us. Tyson, however, said that Asteroid 2018VP1, which currently flies at a speed of more than 40,000 km per hour, is not “big enough” to cause damage. He then jokingly added that if the world was somehow going to end in 2020, it won’t be the Universe’s fault.
Scientists have said that there is no reason 2018VP1 should enjoy as much noise as asteroids so small that they hit Earth several times a year.
Image Credit: ESA-ScienceOffice.org
Following the history of the far-reaching damage we suffered in 2020, many people believed that the ‘Election Day asteroid’ could bring about the end of life. But NASA has argued that the space rock “poses no threat” to Earth. The 6.5-foot-inch asteroid has a 0.41 percent or one in 240 chance of entering our world’s atmosphere. But even if it did, there is still no apparent danger as 2018VP1 would “disintegrate due to its extremely small size”.
Asteroid 2018VP1, a space rock the size of a refrigerator, is hurtling towards us at more than 40,000 km / h.
It may affect Earth on November 2, the day before the presidential election.
It is not large enough to cause damage. So if the world ends in 2020, it won’t be the Universe’s fault. pic.twitter.com/eiy9G9w4Ez
– Neil deGrasse Tyson (@neiltyson) October 18, 2020
Also, scientists are saying that there are no reason for 2018VP1 to enjoy the buzz of the asteroids, this little bump against the Earth several times a year. Bill Bottke, director of the department of space studies at the Southwest Research Institute, added that we were lucky as we caught him before he made a close encounter.
Asteroid 2018VP1 is very small, approx. 6.5 feet and poses no threat to Earth! It currently has a 0.41 percent chance of entering our planet’s atmosphere, but if it did, it would disintegrate due to its extremely small size.
– NASA Asteroid Clock (@AsteroidWatch) 23 Aug 2020
In comparison, the Chicxulub impactor that led to the sudden extinction of the dinosaurs of the planet about 66 million years ago, it was almost 10 km wide.
Asteroid 2018VP1 was first discovered at the Palomar Observatory in California’s San Diego County in 2018 and hence the mention of the year in its name. NASA has cataloged detailed information about the asteroid in its JPL small body database browser.
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