Newly discovered asteroid: NASA sees “very small probability” of collision

Updated 03/14/2023 10:55 AM

• NASA scientists have discovered a new asteroid.
• They’re giving it a “very small chance” of hitting Earth in about 20 years.

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According to the US space agency NASA, there is a “very small chance” that a newly discovered asteroid will collide with Earth in 2046. The asteroid “2023 DW”, which was discovered in February, has a diameter of about 50 meters and needs about 271 days to orbit the sun, according to NASA.

The exact path cannot be predicted

However, it is not yet possible to accurately predict the asteroid’s trajectory. “When new objects are discovered, it often takes several weeks of data to reduce the uncertainty and adequately predict orbits for years to come.

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Orbit analysts will continue to monitor Asteroid 2023 DW and update predictions as more data comes in.”

Scientists have already located thousands of near-Earth asteroids and are monitoring their trajectories. (dpa/ari)

Teaser image: © Image Alliance/Associated Press/Bill Ingalls