WORLD ASTEROID DAY 2021: HISTORY, TUNGUKA EVENT

WHAT IS AN ASTEROID?

Everybody in this world would have studies social studies where you learn about comets, asteroids, etc. But do you know the history and biography of asteroids? The asteroid is a small, rocky object that orbits the sun. You might have learned about the asteroid belt. An asteroid belt is a place where most of the asteroids of the solar system are found. There are many types of asteroids based on size. The size of the asteroid determines its cause on earth. Many asteroids have hit our earth which we all know by reading the history. 

WHAT IS ASTEROID DAY?

Asteroid Day is celebrated to create an awareness of the effect of asteroids and to ensure the event of the largest asteroid hitting the earth. Tunguska Event is the most important event in world history. On this day, In 1908 in Russia this event took place. This couldn't be imagined. It is said that it is 200 feet wide, 220,000,000 pounds, and was coming at the speed of 33,000 miles per hour. The asteroid is a rock when it is in space but when it enters the atmosphere, it gets heated up and reaches the earth which causes huge damage. If the size of the asteroid is 1 m it would enter the earth's atmosphere and burn itself in the atmosphere and it doesn't reach the earth and cause damage. It must be at least 400m to create huge damage. Tunguska asteroid reached the earth with a temperature of 45,000 degrees. This is the time when it exploded and generated a butterfly wave and destroyed the forest. A man who was sitting in his chair enjoying nature suddenly flew away back full of fire. He was 40 miles away from the center of the explosion. Tunguska river basin is the place of explosion. It is considered to be the largest asteroid in human history. Even scientists had a conflict that it would be a meteor or a comet too. 

As everybody knew that a large asteroid reached earth which disappeared the species of Dinosaurs. The largest asteroid found in space is Ceres which is found in the asteroid belt. Ceres size is 939km. The smallest asteroid found in space is the 2015 TC25 asteroid which about 2 meters which are also found in the asteroid belt. Asteroids also revolve around the sun with other planets. Some asteroids follow the other planet's path to revolve around the sun. 

Do asteroids hit the earth at any time?

Yes, an asteroid hits the earth at any time. The next asteroid is seemed to hit earth by 13th April 2029. It is expected to pass within 32,000km of the earth's surface. That is nearly one-tenth of the distance between earth and moon. it is calculated that an asteroid with a 1km diameter hit the earth every 5,00,000 years on average. A large asteroid of 5km diameter hit the earth once in 20 million years. Once in Blue moon. 

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