Beware: Monster asteroid approaching Earth,to buzz on May 31

Bangalore, May 20: A monster asteroid, which is identified as 1998 QE2, has been approaching the Earth and the asteroid is said to buzz on May 30.

The asteroid, which is about nine times the length of its name-sharing ocean liner, Queen Elizabeth 2, has the potentiality to tumble the Earth.

According to reports, even astronauts were confused about the origin of the space object. Los Angeles Times quoted one researcher at Jet Propulsion Laboratory at La Cañada Flintridge, California -- Amy Mainzer as saying that the asteroid's surface is covered with a sticky, black residue which suggests that it might be the remains of a comet that came in close proximity to the Sun.

However, the researcher also claimed that the space object could be a part of the asteroid belt between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter.

Speaking abou the approaching asteroid, the researcher was quoted as saying, "This is a really big asteroid, similar in size to the one that killed off the dinosaurs, and it's getting very close to us."

Continuing her statement, she also added, "Fortunately we've been tracking its orbit very carefully so we know with great certainty it won't hit us.We don't need to panic, but we do need to pay attention."

The next arrival of the space object would not occur again for another two centuries if it misses to buzz on May 31.

Explaining the importance of such asteroid, radar astronomer Lance Benner, the principal investigator for the Goldstone radar observations from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California said, "Whenever an asteroid approaches this closely, it provides an important scientific opportunity to study it in detail to understand its size, shape, rotation, surface features, and what they can tell us about its origin."

Beware: Monster asteroid approaching Earth, to buzz on May 31

A monster asteroid, which is identified as 1998 QE2, has been approaching the Earth and the asteroid is said to buzz on May 30.

Beware: Monster asteroid approaching Earth, to buzz on May 31

The asteroid, which is about nine times the length of its name-sharing ocean liner, Queen Elizabeth 2, has the potentiality to tumble the Earth.

Monster astroid approaching Earth

Even astronauts were confused about the origin of the space object.

Monster astroid approaching Earth

Researcher said, "This is a really big asteroid, similar in size to the one that killed off the dinosaurs, and it's getting very close to us."

Monster asteroid approaching Earth

Researcher also said, "Fortunately we've been tracking its orbit very carefully so we know with great certainty it won't hit us.We don't need to panic, but we do need to pay attention."

OneIndia News