Asteroid 2023 BU does not pose a threat to Earth , but NASA will monitor its passage to study it.
Asteroid 2023 BU approaches Earth
An asteroid the approximate size of a truck will pass ‘close’ to Earth this Thursday and NASA will be attentive to observe it.
2023 BU is approximately 3.5 to 8.5 meters across and NASA forecasts that it will pass just 3,600 kilometers above the southern tip of South America in the afternoon.
A newly discovered asteroid, named 2023 BU, is expected to make one of the closet approaches by a near-Earth object ever recorded. Thanks to diligent teams of #planetarydefense experts, we know It poses zero risk to Earth.
Learn why: https://t.co/MBLpHqb7h7 pic.twitter.com/j9McEGrOVm
— NASA Asteroid Watch (@AsteroidWatch) January 25, 2023
Will the asteroid 2023 BU hit the earth?
NASA clearly states that there is no risk of the asteroid hitting Earth.
However, should this happen, the asteroid would become a fireball and disintegrate in the atmosphere.
2023 BU was discovered only a few days ago by Gennadiy Borisov, who also discovered the interstellar comet 2l/Borisov, from the Crimea.
According to Davide Farnocchia, a navigation engineer at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, “this is one of the closest approaches of an object to Earth ever recorded.”
Changes in the trajectory of the asteroid
The approach to Earth of 2023 BU will cause a change in its trajectory due to the gravity of the planet.
Before meeting Earth , the asteroid ‘s orbit around the Sun was similar to ours with 359 days to complete.
After the step, this will be longer and it will take 425 days to complete it.