Valentine’s Day 2046 might not be a day for celebration as astronomers predict that an asteroid named 2023 DW could hit Earth on that day. The 165-foot space rock was first spotted in Chile in February 2023, and experts have forecasted that it has a 1 in 560 chance of colliding with our planet.
The predicted impact zones stretch from the Indian Ocean to the Pacific Ocean, covering the west to the east coast of the United States, with Los Angeles, Hawaii, and Washington DC among the potential targets.
NASA has confirmed that they are keeping an eye on the asteroid, and while they believe the chances of impact are slim, they are continuing to track its movements.
NASA has described the discovery as “routine,” and there is currently no need for any public concern. According to the Torino scale, which measures the potential impact hazards of near-earth objects, the asteroid’s pass near the Earth poses no unusual level of danger.
However, should the asteroid collide with Earth, it would be comparable to the Tunguska event that occurred in Siberia 114 years ago. The 160-foot asteroid caused a nuclear explosion that would have destroyed a large metropolitan area, but it landed in a forest, flattening over 80 million trees. NASA has warned that the collision of 2023 DW with our planet would have similarly catastrophic consequences.
The discovery of the asteroid is a reminder of the importance of continued efforts to monitor space objects that could threaten Earth. While the chances of impact are currently low, scientists are continuing to monitor the asteroid’s movements to update predictions as more data becomes available.
NASA remains vigilant, saying, “orbit analysts will continue to monitor asteroid 2023 DW and update predictions as more data comes in.”
While it is still possible that asteroid 2023 DW could hit Earth on Valentine’s Day 2046, the chances are small. We must continue monitoring space objects to ensure we are prepared for any potential threats.
As NASA states, “there is no cause for public attention or public concern,” but we should still be aware of the risks and support continued efforts to keep our planet safe.