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Asteroid 2002 NY40, was discovered about a month ago and is slated to pass Earth on 18th August this year, at a distance of 526 600 kilometres. With all the recent concern over asteroid 2002 NT7, this asteroid has not received much attention, even though it is likely pass Earth at a distance closer than 2002 NT7.
Estimations by astronomers show the asteroid to be about 500 meters across. This asteroid poses no danger to Earth this year. But astronomers have calculated many close passes on future orbits, one of which, in the year 2022, has a small chance of intersecting the Earth. More observations of this newly discovered asteroid, however, are likely to show it will definitely miss us. Currently astronomers are predicting a chance of 1 in 500,000 that 2002 NY40 might collide with the Earth in 2022.
An object of this size could cause regional destruction and might cause a temporary change to the world’s climate if it were to collide with the Earth.
More info: Space.com
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