The asteroid 2022 GJ4 is around 18 meters large, making it the length of 3.5 hippos or three giraffes. On Friday, another asteroid, 2022 GU3, will pass nearby, measuring 9.6 American buffalos in length.
A tiny asteroid the size of 3.5 hippos will fly by Earth on Monday, and if you’re lucky, you might catch a glimpse of it.
Size of the asteroid?
The asteroid, dubbed 2022 GJ4, measures between 14 and 32 meters in diameter. Its approximate width is 18 meters, according to NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. In comparison, a hippopotamus may reach a length of 5.2 meters. It would be the length of three giraffes if measured in a different way.
How far is it?
This little space rock will pass the Earth at a distance of 1.5 million kms, traveling at a speed of around 15.55 kms per second.
The Moon orbits the Earth at a distance of roughly 384,000 kilometers, so while this is far farther, it is still a pretty close encounter on a cosmic scale.
There is little to no chance that the Earth will be hit by something. Even if it did, the damage caused by such a small asteroid would be minor in comparison to larger, more devastating asteroids.
The question remains, though, given how near it is approaching the Earth:
How to watch it?
Only if you’re at the correct place and have the right tools.
Asteroid 2022 GJ4 is still a small asteroid. This, together with distance and brightness, determines whether or not an asteroid may be seen from Earth.
Overall, yes, even if you’re in the United States, you’ll need to employ long exposure photography, as The Sky Live points out.
Friday one?
2022 GJ4 isn’t the only asteroid that will pass close to Earth in the near future.
Another small asteroid, 2022 GU3, is scheduled to pass by the planet on Friday.
NASA JPL estimates that this asteroid will be somewhat larger than 2022 GJ4 (about 24 meters, or 9.6 American buffalos or four giraffes) and will be 1.75 million kilometers away.
You can also see this one if you have access to long exposure photography.
Image Credit: Pixabay
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