They detect an asteroid and hours later “rubbed” the Earth

A spacecraft the size of a chariot was detected on Tuesday and to the surprise of astronomers, the asteroid’s trajectory showed that it would be passing extremely close to Earth hours later.

The asteroid has been named the “2021 RS2” by the International Astronomical Union, and had its closest approach to it from 03:28 today Wednesday, Puerto Rico time.

“It is estimated that it passed at a distance of only 9,532 miles (15,340 km) from the Earth’s surface, which is really close as we can say it passed just over a diameter in Earth, as our planet measures about 7,917 miles, ”the Caribbean Astronomical Society (SAC) noted.

In fact, it is the asteroid to move closer to Earth so far this year.

Space rock moves through space at a speed of 39,366 miles per hour (63,353 km / h).

The SAC clarified that we were never at risk, as in the case of an asteroid about 3.5 meters (11.5 feet) in diameter, it would have disintegrated almost completely, if it had penetrated the atmosphere. However, it would have caused the sighting of an impressive meteor to have occurred the disintegration of itself.

The educational institution explained that small asteroids are very difficult to detect in advance.

“They are dark rocks and despite the technology available, they could just start to reflect some sunlight when they could be close by, so trying to capture a small, dark object at enormous distances is not at all easy. The important thing is that large asteroids usually if they can be detected in advance, “the organization clarified.

Asteroid 2021 RS2 was detected yesterday from the 60 “(1.52 meter) telescope at the Mount Lemmon Observatory in Arizona.