In the annals of celestial classification, this enigmatic traveler belongs to the distinguished Apollo group of Near-Earth Asteroids. The Apollo asteroids are a unique breed, their orbits crossing paths with our beloved Earth and possessing semi-major axes greater than our planet’s own. They owe their name to the illustrious 1862 Apollo asteroid, a colossus first sighted by the venerable German astronomer Karl Reinmuth during the tumultuous 1930s.
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History
Throughout the annals of history, a prevailing hypothesis has persisted regarding the cataclysmic event responsible for the extinction of the magnificent dinosaurs. This hypothesis, commonly referred to as the Alvarez hypothesis, posits that an asteroid of colossal proportions collided with our planet approximately 65 million years ago, ushering in the demise of entire dinosaur species. Astonishingly, this theory is not a mere conjecture; it boasts substantial empirical evidence. Scientists have unearthed the irrefutable testament to this cosmic collision in the form of an impact crater, christened the Chicxulub crater, concealed beneath the Yucatan Peninsula’s topography in Mexico. According to the Alvarez hypothesis, the asteroid’s cataclysmic arrival would have triggered the formation of colossal tidal waves, engendering an impact crater that stretched across an astounding 140 kilometers. Subsequently, ejected material would have become interstellar wanderers, drastically altering Earth’s climate and plunging it into a protracted, nuclear winter-like epoch, ultimately sealing the fate of the once-mighty dinosaurs.
However, in a recent development that has stirred the scientific community, NASA’s stalwart Defense Coordination Office (PDCO), entrusted with the solemn duty of vigilantly monitoring the celestial expanse and tracking myriad Near-Earth Objects (NEOs), has cast a radiant spotlight upon an imminent celestial traveler—a celestial body that will imminently brush Earth’s cosmic shoulder. Brace yourself for an illuminating voyage through the cosmos.
Behold, Asteroid 2023 UH!
The watchful eye of NASA’s Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) has bestowed the moniker “Asteroid 2023 UH” upon this cosmic wanderer. This celestial nomad is set to make its celestial sojourn today, on this very date of October 20, skimming our planet’s outskirts from a distance of approximately 2.5 million kilometers. As it hurtles through the cosmic void, this cosmic vagabond boasts an astounding velocity, clocking in at a staggering 39,932 kilometers per hour—a speed that is but a mere whisker away from that of an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM)!
Size Matters!
NASA has meticulously ascertained the dimensions of this celestial nomad, and it has been determined that its proportions are insufficient to earn it the harrowing label of a ‘Potentially Hazardous Asteroid.’ This celestial vagabond measures anywhere from 52 to 118 feet in width, making it akin to a veritable aerial giant, albeit one that gracefully traverses the cosmic realm. And, as fate would have it, this celestial sojourner is but one of the celestial travelers embarking on a cosmic odyssey today, accompanied by two other stellar companions—Asteroid 2023 TK15 and Asteroid 2020 UR—painting a vivid tapestry of celestial marvels gracing our celestial stage.