Return Of Massive Asteroid Could Destroy Earth, Expert Warns

After Earth experienced a near-collision with a potential killer asteroid last Saturday, a scientist warned that the planet may not be so lucky when the space rock returns in the future. Given its massive size, the scientist estimated that the asteroid could release up to 50 megatons of energy if it hits Earth.

On Sept. 14, an asteroid identified by NASA’s Center for Near Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) as 2000 QW7 passed by Earth. According to the data gathered by the agency, the asteroid approached Earth from a distance of 0.03564 astronomical units or roughly 3.3 million miles away.

Although Earth managed to dodge a collision with the massive asteroid last weekend, which measures about 2,133 feet long, there’s still a chance that the space rock might hit the planet during its future return.

As indicated in scientific reports, there are various factors in space that can alter an asteroid’s trajectory, such as gravitational keyholes. These are regions in space that are heavily affected by the gravitational pull of nearby planets.

If 2000 QW7 passes through a keyhole, it could get pulled into a path that will take it directly to Earth.

For Dr. Rebecca Allen of Melbourne’s Swinburne University of Technology, the size of the asteroid is enough to produce an explosion that’s equivalent to multiple nuclear bombs detonating.

“Something like this, if it was to impact Earth, would be devastating because it would hit with a force of 30 to 50 megatons,” she said according to Express. “That is the same force as modern nuclear weapons so we certainly wouldn’t want it to come any closer than its current distance and thankfully it will pass us by.”

Astrophysicist Brad Tucker from the Australian National University noted that although 2000 QW7 is not big enough to destroy the planet, it certainly is capable of wiping out a major city during an impact event.

“This wouldn’t destroy Earth, but it could wipe out a large city in one go,” he said according to Seven News. “It would release the energy of tons of nuclear bombs and create a crater up to 100 km wide.”

According to CNEOS, 2000 QW7’s next near-Earth approach is expected to happen on Oct. 19, 2038.