ROME, Italy – Today, a massive asteroid known as 2011 UL21 will have a remarkably close encounter with Earth, hurtling past our planet at staggering speeds of up to 58,000 mph. This so-called “planet killer” asteroid, comparable in size to a mountain, is set to be one of the largest space rocks to approach Earth in over a century.
2011 UL21, classified as a near-Earth asteroid, follows an orbit that occasionally brings it within 1.3 astronomical units of the sun, which is approximately 1.3 times the average distance between Earth and the sun. Studies indicate that this space rock, estimated to be between 1.1 and 2.4 miles wide, is larger than 99% of known near-Earth asteroids, according to the European Space Agency (ESA).
While 2011 UL21 is significantly smaller than past asteroid impacts such as the Vredefort asteroid or the one responsible for the extinction of dinosaurs millions of years ago, it still carries the potential to cause continent-wide damage and significant climate disruptions if it were to impact Earth.
Despite its designation as a “potentially hazardous” object by NASA due to its close proximity, 2011 UL21 will pass by Earth at a distance of about 4.1 million miles. This event marks the closest approach the asteroid has made to our planet in at least a century, creating a rare opportunity for observation.
Experts believe that there is no immediate threat posed by 2011 UL21, given its trajectory and distance from Earth. However, the asteroid’s passage will offer valuable insights into its characteristics and behavior during close encounters with our planet.
To witness this celestial phenomenon, an online live stream will capture 2011 UL21’s closest approach, providing viewers with a unique perspective from the Bellatrix Astronomical Observatory in Ceccano, Italy. Additionally, those with access to a telescope may be able to spot the asteroid in the night sky, particularly on June 28 and June 29 when it is expected to be at its brightest.
The next time 2011 UL21 will approach Earth this closely will not occur until 2089, emphasizing the rarity of such events. Despite occasional close calls with smaller asteroids in the future, the likelihood of a planet killer asteroid impacting Earth within the next millennia remains extremely low, offering a sense of reassurance amidst the vastness of space.