‘Potentially hazardous’: Colossal asteroid to pass Earth today

A massive asteroid as large as the Eiffel Tower, classified as ‘potentially hazardous’, is poised to whiz past Earth today.

A colossal celestial traveller dubbed “2008 OS7,” classified as a “potentially hazardous asteroid”, is poised to whiz past Earth.

Data from NASA’s Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS), shows it measures 210 to 478 metres, equivalent to the Empire State Building.

Despite the menacing titles, like “potentially hazardous asteroid” (PHA) and “near earth object”, it will miss us by a significant distance.

This asteroid is slated to traverse nearby at an approximate distance of 0.01908 astronomical units, equivalent to 2.8 million kilometres.

For context, Earth’s moon maintains its orbit at 386,242 kilometres, while Venus, our celestial neighbour, comes in at a distance of 61 million kilometres during its closest approach.

Today, 2008 OS7 will execute its closest celestial pass, hurtling past Earth at an astonishing speed of 18.2 km/s.

A colossal celestial traveller dubbed 2008 OS7, classified as a potentially hazardous asteroid PHA, is poised to pass Earth. Picture: Virtual Telescope Project

Designated as both a “Near Earth Object” (NEO) and a “potentially hazardous asteroid” due to its dimensions and proximity, 2008 OS7 is under NASA’s scrutiny.

NEOs, within 48.2 million kilometres of Earth, number around 31,000, while PHAs, venturing within 7.4 million kilometres and measuring over 140 metres in diameter, total around 2,350 — according to NASA.

“We don’t need to worry about it too much as this asteroid will not enter Earth’s atmosphere, while it will still approach close to the Earth,” Minjae Kim, a research fellow at the University of Warwick told Newsweek.

“There are millions of asteroids in our solar system, of which around 2,350 asteroids have been classified as potentially hazardous.”