An asteroid larger than the Empire State Building is approaching Earth, says NASA

An asteroid larger than the Empire State Building in New York is approaching Earth. Photo: Getty Images.

• NASA claims that an asteroid larger than the Empire State Building in New York will pass “close” to Earth;

• According to scientists from the space agency, the asteroid can pass “close” to the planet at a distance of minus 5.8 million km;

• The space agency is already exploring several options for protection against asteroids.

The total lunar eclipse, also known as the Bloody Moon, will occur between Sunday night (15) and Monday dawn (16). However, NASA claims that another “astronomical event” will occur hours earlier.

According to the space agency, the asteroid 2008 TZ3, which is 490 meters wide and 440 meters high, will pass “close” to Earth. By comparison, the space object is 50 meters taller than the Empire State Building in New York, USA.

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According to NASA, the asteroid is classified as “potentially dangerous” due to its predicted close passages.

According to the agency, when such an object approaches the Earth within a distance of 7.5 million km, as it is larger than a certain size, it can already be considered problematic. NASA also claims that the asteroid must pass the planet at a speed of 29,000 km / h.

The space agency is exploring several options for protection against these space objects. A mission called the Dual Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) was launched last November.