Science is very fascinating and so are its occurrences. One such fascinating occurrences was that of a large 150-foot asteroid named ‘2023 FZ3’ that passed by Earth on April 6. The asteroid – roughly the size of an airplane – was predicted to approach the planet at a distance of 4,190,000 kilometres while moving at a speed of 67,656 kilometers per hour.
Despite its size, the asteroid was not considered a hazardous threat to Earth.
In addition to ‘2023 FZ3,’ NASA identified four other asteroids that will come very close to Earth. 2023 FU6, a small 45-foot asteroid, is 1,870,000 kilometres away from Earth. 2023 FS11, an 82-foot asteroid, is 6,610,000 kilometres away. 2023 FA7, a 92-foot asteroid, 2,250,000 kilometrea away. And 2023 FQ7, a 65-foot, house-sized asteroid that approached Earth on April 5.
NASA tracks comets and asteroids that may come close to Earth through its Asteroid Watch dashboard, which provides information on the date of closest approach, relative size, distance from Earth during each encounter, and estimated diameter of the object.
While there are over 30,000 asteroids cataloged near Earth, with more than 850 larger than a kilometre wide, they are not expected to pose a threat to Earth in the next 100 years