Published 12:56 IST, January 6th 2021
5 Asteroids heading towards Earth on Jan 6 - Two observed to be the size of Eiffel Tower
Asteroids as big as Eiffel Tower were found heading towards Earth on January 6, 2020. Read on to know more about the massive asteroid heading towards Earth.
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2020 has ended but the threats that came with it are still here. This time, it's from the outer space. Asteroid heading towards Earth day after day may not be the most surprising fact to hear but it does manage to send shivers down the spine. If that wasn't enough, this time the asteroids are reported to be 0.83 times the height of the Eiffel Tower.
Out of the five asteroids mentioned below, three will supposedly pose a lower threat due to their small sizes, while the other two are said to be nearly half a kilometre wide. An asteroid can be perceived as a threat depending on its size and the speed at which it's approaching. In this case, 2021AJ is the smallest in size yet because of the speed that it's zooming in, the asteroid can manage to destroy an entire city.
On the 3rd of January, a similar occurrence was observed where a gigantic 220-meter asteroid the size of a Golden Gate Bridge passed by Earth at a whopping speed of 6.9 million kilometres per hour. According to NASA, several incidences with similar-sized asteroids in the frame pass by Earth a few times every year. However, they are not always noticeable unless they're directly heading towards the planet. The famous French Astrologer, Nostradamus had also predicted the same as many of his other accurate predictions.
Asteroids heading towards Earth on January 6, 2020
Asteroid |
Time (GMT) |
Average diameter |
Speed (kilometres per hour) |
2021 AC |
03:27 |
73.5 metres |
50,652 kmph |
2016 CO247 |
04:09 |
340 metres |
60,228 kmph |
2021 AJ |
11:38 |
19.5 metres |
45,648 kmph |
2018 KP1 |
13:21 |
41 metres |
15,948 kmph |
332446 (2008 AF4) |
21:52 |
495 metres |
39,564 kmph |
Source: CNEOS
NASA is actively monitoring the situation
Fortunately, these asteroids are said to be passing at a significant distance, about nine times wider than the distance between the Earth and the Moon, and not directly towards our planet. However, NASA calls it potentially hazardous because these objects swing at 0.02019 astronomical units. They may not affect us now but if they continue to orbit along the same plane as Earth, they can pose a danger in the future. NASA is constantly monitoring its trajectory because of its proximity to the Earth.
12:56 IST, January 6th 2021