2024-03-15 23:59:29
Approximately 66 million years ago, a giant asteroid hit Earth, creating the Chicxulub crater. The dinosaurs were not warned of the approach of this terrible threat.
This was reported by the ScienceAlert portal.
If such an event were to occur today, a shock wave 2 million times more powerful than a hydrogen bomb would wipe out forests, cities and cause devastating tsunamis. After some cities had withstood the initial shock wave, a subsequent magnitude 10 earthquake would have destroyed them. Clouds of hot dust and ash would then block out the sun, causing an icy cold and plunging the planet into darkness.
Unlike dinosaurs, humans are aware of potential threats such as an asteroid impact and may be able to take action to prevent them. NASA, through the Planetary Defense Coordination Office, monitors and assesses the risks associated with hazardous asteroids in the solar system.
NASA collaborates with the global astronomy community through the International Asteroid Warning Network (IAWN). The IAWN has procedures in place to notify the public if a hazardous asteroid is detected heading toward Earth.
At the beginning of the process, members of the team that discovered the threat will transmit data through the IAWN network to thoroughly test their findings and assess the level of risk. When all parties agree on the need to prepare for a possible collision, NASA will issue a warning.
For example, if an asteroid moves towards the United States, NASA will inform the White House and the government will issue an official statement. In the event that the asteroid is large enough to pose an international threat, the IAWN will notify the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs.
Currently, approximately 2,300 potentially hazardous asteroids are known, with about 153 of them having a diameter of more than 900 meters. This is quite enough to cause a catastrophe if they collide with the Earth. The problem is that if the threat is detected less than 5 years before the expected impact, then NASA will not have enough time to deflect the dangerous asteroid.
Earlier, Cursor wrote that scientists are sounding the alarm about asteroid 2007 FT3, which has been missing since its discovery in 2007 and has not yet been discovered. There is concern that the asteroid, which disappeared almost immediately after its discovery, may collide with Earth this year.
2024-03-15 23:59:29