Scientist Reveals Potential Earth Impact Date For Massive Killer Asteroid

A scientist has identified a massive asteroid that’s powerful enough to wipe out an entire city or even a state. The scientist also noted that initial predictions indicated that this asteroid has a chance of hitting Earth in less than 10 years from now.

According to cosmochemist Natalie Starkey, aside from the size of asteroids, the devastation caused by an impact event also depends on the velocity of the space rock. This means that moderately sized asteroids can still level a large area due to its atmospheric entry speed.

“Space objects can be traveling extremely quickly, so even something house-sized would flatten everything in a 600-meter radius,” she said according to Express.

Of course, the effect of an asteroid’s size on an impact event is still greater than its velocity. One particular asteroid that’s massive enough to destroy a large portion of Earth is called 1997 XF11.

According to NASA’s Center for Near Earth Object Studies (CNEOS), this asteroid travels at an average speed of over 31,000 miles per hour and has an estimated diameter of 1.5 miles. Starkey noted that initial predictions based on the asteroid’s trajectory revealed that this massive space rock has a chance of colliding with Earth in 2028.

“Moving up to slightly larger objects, there is a [near-Earth asteroid], 1997 XF11, which is about one mile in diameter and is set to make a close pass to Earth in 2028,” Starkey explained. “In fact, initial predictions suggest it might collide with Earth in 2028.”

As indicated in CNEOS’ database, 1997 XF11’s near-Earth approach in 2028 will take place on Oct. 26. According to the agency, the asteroid is expected to approach Earth from a distance of 0.00621 astronomical units or roughly 577,000 miles away.

Based on previous observations on the asteroids, scientists previously feared that gravitational forces in space could push 1997 FX11 into a collision course with the planet during its upcoming visit. Due to its massive size, an impact from 1997 FX11 would create a massive crater on the ground and would send a blast wave traveling several miles away, destroying and incinerating everything in its path. The energy from the explosion caused by the asteroid’s impact would be powerful enough to take out an entire city.

Fortunately, through follow-up observations, astronomers were able to rule out a possible collision between Earth and 1997 FX11 in 2028.

“In fact, initial predictions suggested it might collide with Earth, but after some careful observations scientists have, fortunately, worked out it will pass at about 2.5 times further than the distance from the Earth to the Moon, around 580,000 miles,” Starkey said.