Scientists have found 20 large asteroids near Venus with erratic orbits that could one day collide with Earth, posing a potential risk to cities. But no immediate danger detected
The universe is brimming with mysteries, and among them are millions of asteroids hurtling through space. Imagine if one of these massive rocks were to collide with Earth, an entire city could be obliterated within minutes. This is not science fiction, but a conclusion drawn from recent astronomical research.
Scientists have identified 20 large asteroids orbiting near Venus that have the potential to strike Earth in the future. These asteroids have been ominously nicknamed ‘city killers’. There are concerns that some of these space rocks might one day collide with our planet.
Researchers from São Paulo State University in Brazil have been studying these asteroids and discovered that they orbit close to Venus. Among them are ‘Trojan’ asteroids, which maintain stable positions either ahead of or behind the planet in its orbit. Additionally, there is an unusual ‘quasi-moon’ called Zoozve. A striking feature of these asteroids is their erratic orbits, that is, they do not follow a fixed path around any planet, making them difficult to track.
Scientists believe these asteroids originated from the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter and measure over 140 metres in diameter. A collision with any one of them could cause devastation on a city-wide scale.
Currently, these asteroids are far from Earth and do not present an immediate threat. However, Venus is just 40 million kilometres away from our planet. If the orbits of these asteroids were to shift slightly, Earth’s gravity could pull them in, making it challenging to prevent a catastrophic impact.
Many of these asteroids follow unpredictable, zigzagging trajectories and only become visible when they approach Earth. Moreover, many remain hidden because the Sun’s brightness obscures them from observation.
Valerio Carruba, the lead author of the study, stated, “We should not underestimate the potential danger posed by these bodies, but it is also true that there is no immediate cause for alarm."
Parishmita Saikia