“City Killer Asteroid.” After reading those words you are probably imagining the remains of a city after a meteor: rubble in scattered piles, ashes floating through the air, half-remains of buildings barely staying upright. However, while the asteroid 2023 DZ2 has the potential to obliterate a city, scientists predict that it will not come to Earth. To fully understand this topic, it is important to comprehend what the asteroid is, why it is rare, and why it is coming to Earth now instead of in our past or future.
What is this asteroid?
First, it is vital to understand what 2023 DZ2 is. This asteroid is predicted to orbit extremely close to Earth this week. In fact, it will “sweep by at about half the Earth-moon distance”. The actual distance will be about one hundred five thousand miles between Earth and DZ2. The close encounter will also allow scientists to study the asteroid which can later offer more information. Richard Moissl, head of the EASA Planetary Defence Office, stated that “this is a once in a decade opportunity to get some nice close-up measurements in a relatively large body that is relatively easy to measure to that effect.”
How did it get its name?
Second, it is important to note why the asteroid is getting this much publicity. DZ2 is not a random asteroid that is just passing through; instead, it is on a heliocentric – around the Sun – orbit. Every decade, this asteroid completes an elliptical, or oval-like, motion around the Sun.
Furthermore, scientists have stated that “it [is] rare for one so big to come so close” which is why many are eager to study it. For a brief period of time, meteorologists expected the asteroid to make an impact in 2026, the next time the asteroid will be coming our way. However, they later ruled the possibility out. NASA, looking on the bright side, labeled this as a good practice in case “a potential asteroid threat were ever discovered.”
The name “City Killer” originated from two other asteroids; although, these ones had reached Earth. Tens of thousands of years ago, an asteroid made of iron hit Arizona creating a crater hundreds of feet deep. The second asteroid happened at a much earlier date: 1908. A shockwave was sent by this asteroid which flattened two thousand square kilometers. Thankfully, it had only hit a forest and not a populated area.
This once-in-a-decade sighting has got scientists, stargazers, and many others eagerly watching the sky. While this asteroid is flying near the Earth, it, unlike others, will not be making an impact in the near future.