NASA Confirms Lost 54-Million-Ton Asteroid Won’t Hit Earth
NASA has reassured the public that there is no cause for concern about a lost 54-million-ton asteroid potentially hitting Earth this year. The announcement comes in response to a report from GB News stating that asteroid 2007 FT3 had a slim chance of colliding with Earth in 2024.
The 984-foot asteroid, first spotted in 2007, was eventually categorized as a “lost asteroid” after scientists lost track of its orbit. According to GB News, there was a 1 in 10 million chance of the asteroid impacting Earth by March 3, 2030, or a 1 in 11.5 million chance of a collision on October 5, 2024.
However, NASA has confirmed that there are no known asteroid impact threats to Earth in the next century. The space agency and its partners continue to monitor the skies to find, track, and categorize asteroids and near-Earth objects (NEOs), including those that come close to Earth.
Before losing track of asteroid 2007 FT3, scientists were able to gather valuable information about it, leading to its placement on NASA’s Sentry Risk Table of objects that could potentially impact Earth.
Overall, there is no imminent danger from asteroid 2007 FT3, and the public can rest assured that NASA is diligently monitoring the situation to ensure the safety of the planet.