According to the Center for Near Earth Object Studies at NASA, the asteroid designated 2019 NY2—measuring between 150 and 330 meters in diameter—will make a close approach to Earth, passing at a distance of approximately 2,5 mln km or 6.5 times the distance to the Moon. The object is traveling at a speed of 9.6 kilometers per second and will pass our planet.
Understanding Potentially Hazardous Asteroids (PHAs)
NASA designates celestial bodies as Potentially Hazardous Asteroids (PHAs) when their orbits intersect Earth’s orbit or pass through its immediate vicinity. According to NASA parameters, the boundary is set at 0.05 astronomical units, which equals roughly 19.5 times the lunar distance, or about 7,5 mln km. Astronomers strictly apply this category to objects with diameters exceeding 140 to 150 meters. Simply belonging to the PHA group does not mean an asteroid will strike Earth. For 2019 NY2, this upcoming encounter marks its closest passage past our planet over the next century and a half.
Orbital Path and Discovery History
Astronomers first identified the 2019 NY2 asteroid in 2019. The space rock takes 845 days, or roughly 2.3 years, to complete one orbit around the Sun. Its home lies within the main asteroid belt situated between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. Scientists classify the body within the Apollo group, a category of near-Earth asteroids featuring orbits that cross the path of our planet and occasionally venture across the orbit of Venus.
Cancelled Radar Observations
NASA originally intended to utilize the close approach of 2019 NY2 to conduct detailed radar observations of the celestial body. During such radar measurements, signals transmit via the 70-meter Goldstone antenna while the reflected echoes are captured by the 100-meter Green Bank antenna.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the size of the 2019 NY2 asteroid?
Astronomers estimate the diameter of 2019 NY2 to be between 150 and 330 meters, according to data from NASA’s Center for Near Earth Object Studies.
Will 2019 NY2 hit Earth?
No. While classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid due to its size and orbital proximity, it will safely miss Earth by roughly 2,5 mln km.
How fast is the asteroid moving?
The space rock travels through space at a velocity of 9.6 kilometers per second, according to NASA tracking data.
When was the asteroid discovered?
Astronomers first identified and cataloged 2019 NY2 in the year 2019.
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