We wanted to make this clear so as not to scare anyone. An asteroid that has been classified as “potentially hazardous” will be passing our planet this month. Why is it classified as such? Well, it’s traveling at a whopping speed of 21,000 MPH, and is it size is anywhere from 427 and 984 feet wide. NASA has named this asteroid 2021 NY1.
The closest it will be to the planet will happen on September 22nd. The asteroid will come within 930,487 miles of Earth. The next time this is going to happen won’t be until September 23rd, 2105 and then it will be even closer, causing it to enter “NEO” territory.
NEOs are otherwise known as Near Earth Objects. Near Earth Objects are debris that come into proximity with Earth. To qualify as a PHO (potentially hazardous object), a size requirement has to be met. Anything over 140 meters (460 ft) across, which is why the 2021 NY1 qualifies as such.
VISIBILITY RIGHT NOW
- 2021 NY1 is above the horizon from Greenwich, United Kingdom
- It is visible looking in the South direction at an altitude of 37° above the horizon.
- Given its current magnitude, 2021 NY1 is visible only through long exposure photography.
How can you see it?
For those of you who want to see it when it passes by, we highly recommend referring to TheSkyLive. There it tells you things like it’s current location, how you can capture it on film and it’s trajectory. It’s going to be your best bet if you’re looking to get photos of it.