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The rock, designated 2003 SW130, was far too small to pose any risk. Had it entered the Earth's atmosphere, it would have fragmented in a spectacular meteor display.
But its detection demonstrates just how efficient astronomers are becoming at picking up such rocks, even those that are the size of a living room.
Interesting use of the word 'efficient'.But its detection demonstrates just how efficient astronomers are becoming at picking up such rocks,
A space rock, also known as an asteroid, is a rocky object that orbits the sun. They can range in size from small pebbles to large boulders and can be found throughout our solar system.
The space rock, known as 2020 QG, passed within 1,830 miles of Earth on August 16, 2020. This is the closest known flyby of an asteroid without impacting Earth.
If the space rock had hit Earth, it would have likely broken up in the atmosphere due to its small size. However, if it had been larger, it could have caused significant damage upon impact.
Close calls with space rocks happen more frequently than you might think. NASA estimates that small asteroids, similar to 2020 QG, pass within the moon's distance from Earth around once a month.
NASA and other space agencies are constantly monitoring the skies for potential asteroid threats and developing strategies for mitigating their impact. Some proposed methods include deflecting the asteroid's path or breaking it up into smaller pieces before it reaches Earth.