A “City-Killer” Asteroid Safely Passes by Earth
On April 15, 2022, a massive asteroid named 2013 NK4 made its closest approach to Earth since records began. Despite being classified as “potentially hazardous,” the asteroid posed no threat to our planet and safely passed by at a distance more than eight times that between Earth and the moon.
Measuring around 2,000 feet wide, 2013 NK4 is twice the size of the infamous “god of chaos” asteroid Apophis. Fortunately, the asteroid will be visible through amateur telescopes over the next three nights from April 15 to April 17.
During its closest approach on April 15, 2013 NK4 came within around 2 million miles from Earth, hurtling through space at a speed of 37,000 mph. While the asteroid is too large to destroy a city upon impact, it is still considered a potentially hazardous object.
Astronomers are diligently tracking 2013 NK4 with radio telescopes to capture specialized radar images in order to determine its size and shape. The asteroid will remain visible to anyone with a decent astronomy telescope until April 17, with the best viewing opportunities on April 16 and April 17.
2013 NK4 orbits the sun every 378 days on an elliptical orbit and will make another flyby on April 23, 2025. This recent approach marks the asteroid’s closest in at least 125 years, with simulations predicting an even closer encounter in 2055.
Although 2013 NK4 may be labeled as a “city-killer” asteroid, there is currently no cause for alarm as it continues on its orbit through our solar system.
“Prone to fits of apathy. Devoted music geek. Troublemaker. Typical analyst. Alcohol practitioner. Food junkie. Passionate tv fan. Web expert.”