Impending Arrival of Empire State Building-Sized Asteroid Classified as Potentially Hazardous, but Earth Safe for Now
Prepare for a moment of celestial intrigue as Asteroid 1994 XD, a colossal space rock resembling the height of the Empire State Building, hurtles towards Earth. Though classified as potentially hazardous, recent assessments assure us that this astronomical giant will pass by our planet at a relatively close distance.
Discovered by the vigilant Spacewatch group at Kitt Peak Observatory in Arizona back in 1994, Asteroid 1994 XD will approach within a proximity of 1.8 million miles, approximately eight times the average span between Earth and the moon. This cosmic event is expected to occur just before 9 pm EDT on June 12.
Measuring between 1,214 to 2,723 feet in diameter and traveling at an astounding velocity of 77,301 kilometers per hour (48,032 mph), this space behemoth has drawn attention from the Asteroid Launcher simulation website. In one simulation, assuming a 45-degree angle impact with a diameter of 1,500 feet, a hypothetical collision of Asteroid 1994 XD in New York City would result in a crater spanning 2.1 miles, causing the vaporization of an estimated 60,000 individuals. Additionally, a devastating 6.8-mile fireball would claim over 6 million lives, while a 264-decibel shockwave would lead to the demise of 5.6 million people. Furthermore, the impact would trigger a powerful 6.0 magnitude earthquake.
However, let us rest assured that current projections indicate a safe passage for Earth, alleviating immediate concerns about this gargantuan space traveler.
That level of potential destruction stemming from the asteroid’s size has earned it the title of a Potentially Hazardous Object. But Asteroid 1994 XD has been even closer to Earth in the past: just 1.5 million miles away on May 31, 1904. It last passed our home on November 27, 2012, and after next week will make another close pass of the Earth in 2041.
According to NASA’s Center for Near Earth Object Studies (NEOS), more than a dozen objects with close approaches to Earth are being tracked.
While Asteroid 1994 XD is expected to pose no risk to our planet, there will likely be a lot more concern on Valentine’s Day 2046. That’s when asteroid 2023 DW has a 1 in 560 chance of hitting us, or 1 in 625 chance, according to European Space Agency. Thankfully, that one’s a lot smaller than 1994 XD – about the size of an Olympic swimming pool.
Last year, NASA carried out the Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission, attempting to deflect a celestial object by launching and crashing a spacecraft into it. The mission was a huge success, altering the small asteroid Dimorphos’ orbit more than expected.
