[Reading Science] Sudden Asteroid Alert... "Closest Approach Ever"

"Asteroid 2023 BU Expected to Approach Earth Within 3600km"

On the afternoon of the 26th (Eastern Time, USA), the asteroid '2023 BU' will approach as close as 3,600 km from the Earth's surface, marking the closest distance ever recorded. This is ten times closer than geostationary satellites. The red line in the photo shows the predicted trajectory of the asteroid '2023 BU'. Photo by NASA

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-su] An asteroid the size of a truck will pass by Earth at a distance of just 3,600 km. Although this is the closest approach on record, it is known that there is no risk of collision with Earth.

On the 25th (Eastern Time, USA), NASA forecasted that an asteroid named '2023 BU,' measuring between 3.5 and 8.5 meters, will approach as close as 3,600 km from the Earth's surface, which is much closer than geostationary satellites (about 35,000 km), at around 7:27 PM on the 26th.

This asteroid was first discovered on the 21st by amateur astronomer Gennadi Borisov, who operates a private observatory in the Crimean Peninsula, Russia. The Minor Planet Center, an international small body position measurement organization, soon observed the same asteroid and posted the information on the International Astronomical Union's Near-Earth Object confirmation website. Since then, numerous observatories worldwide have tracked this asteroid to determine its precise orbit.

NASA also analyzed the orbit through its own asteroid risk assessment system and confirmed that there is no possibility of collision with Earth, but that it will be the closest approach among all near-Earth objects recorded. Even if it were to be pulled by Earth's gravity and collide, its small size means it would burn up upon entering the atmosphere, posing no significant danger.

David Farnocchia, an engineer at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, explained, "This is one of the closest approaches among near-Earth objects recorded so far." NASA expects that as this asteroid passes close to Earth, it will be influenced by Earth's gravity and experience significant changes in its orbit. Currently, it orbits the Sun once every 359 days, but after passing Earth, its orbit will lengthen, extending its solar orbital period (one year) to 425 days.