With the help of its advanced space and ground-based telescopes, NASA has now revealed that an asteroid is expected to pass Earth by a close margin today, January 16. Asteroid 2021 CZ2: Details of close approachOn a few occasions, the orbits of these asteroids bring them close to Earth, a phenomenon known as a ‘Close approach'. According to NASA's Center for Near-Earth Object Studies, an asteroid, given the designation of Asteroid 2021 CZ2, is on its way towards Earth and could pass Earth at a very close distance today, January 16. As per the details, Asteroid 2021 CZ2 is expected to pass Earth by a distance of 3 million kilometers. NASA has revealed that Asteroid 2021 CZ2 belongs to the Aten group of asteroids, which are Earth-crossing Near-Earth Asteroids (NEAs) with semi-major axes smaller than Earth's.

Source: Hindustan Times January 16, 2024 16:56 UTC