Will 2012 DA14 impact Earth in 2020? It’s possible, according to astronomers

Two astronomers from the the Observatorio Astronómico de La Sagra in Spain spotted 2012 DA14 in late February, and the orbit at the time was calculated to be well within that of orbiting satellites. Current projections place the asteroid closer to Earth than any near Earth objects in modern history, according to the U.S. space agency.It will pass harmlessly by on February 15, missing us by just 15,000 miles, but astronomers warn the massive asteroid — dubbed 2012 DA14 — could strike Earth just seven years later.

According to astronomers, the massive asteroid — which measures in at around 150 feet in length — does not pose much a threat seven years from now, but they have yet to definitively rule out an impact. According to NASA, there is a remote possibility it might strike Earth in 2020, but astronomers say they are confident that Earth’s gravity will not affect the asteroid’s orbit.

Source:sciencerecorder.com