A giant asteroid is on its way towards Earth, NASA has warned. Does this space rock pose any threat to the planet?
Earth has been at risk of a solar storm due to a cannibalistic Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) which erupted on the surface of the Sun in the past couple of days. This phenomenon can affect the planet’s power grid and radio communication. However, it is not just the solar storm which poses a threat to Earth. The planet is at risk of danger from asteroids as well. NASA has warned that an asteroid is headed towards the planet hurtling at dangerous speed.
Asteroid 2022 RA5 key details
NASA’s Planetary Defense Coordination Office is responsible for monitoring the skies and keeping a watch on various Near-Earth Objects (NEOs). If any NEO is at risk of Earth impact, it red flags and issues the alert. The same organisation has issued an alert about an asteroid named Asteroid 2022 RA5 which is headed straight for Earth tomorrow, October 11. According to NASA, the 120 feet wide asteroid will make its closest approach to the planet today at a distance of 5 million kilometers. It is hurtling towards Earth at a speed of 18252 kilometers per hour.
According to the-sky.org, the Asteroid 2022 RA5 belongs to the Apollo group of asteroids. It was discovered recently on September 14. This asteroid takes 594 days to complete one trip around the Sun during which its maximum distance from the Sun is 268 million kilometers and nearest distance is 146 million kilometers.
How solar flares affect our tech
Scientists can predict solar flares before they happen, and if they occur, it still takes time for them to reach our planet. This means we can get enough time to secure our tech before the solar flare can reach us. The part that really affects tech seriously is referred to as an EMP (Electromagnetic Pulse). It contains a bunch of charged particles and when they hit something conductive, they impart that charge on that conductive object, creating current in a part of a circuit that overloads a powered line. This can fry components and even melt wires when they become overloaded.
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