There’s been some worrying news from outer space this week.
The mysteries of the universe have long captured the attention of people here on earth.
And it seems we’re all a little bit obsessed with what’s out there!
There have been many a movie made about what would happen if an asteroid was on track to come smashing into Earth…
From Armageddon to Don’t Look Up, the tale of what could happen in the case of a planetary disaster has fascinated humans for decades.
We have, thankfully, not faced this dilemma here on the ground – yet!
But that’s not stopped NASA from thinking about what they could do to prevent the scenario.
Recently, the space agency hit headlines after doing a test to see if they could change the course of an asteroid.
The mission to hit the asteroid, itself named Dimorphos, was titled Double Asteroid Redirection Test, or Dart for short.
So, they launched a $330 million spacecraft to try and do just that.
Per LADBible, NASA said prior to the spacecraft’s launch: “Dart’s target asteroid is not a threat to Earth.”
They continued: “But is the perfect testing ground to see if this method of asteroid deflection – known as the kinetic impactor technique – would be a viable way to protect our planet.”
“If an asteroid on a collision course with Earth were discovered in the future.”
The spacecraft hit the asteroid at 15,000 miles per hour, eleven million kilometers away from Earth.
It set off ten months ago alongside a satellite whose purpose was to detach and record the crash.
This marks the first time humans have used a spacecraft to hit an asteroid.
Per The Guardian, NASA’s planetary science division director called it a “new era of humankind.”
Scientists hope that Dimorphos’ orbit system will be altered by the crash.
It currently takes just under twelve hours to orbit, but hopefully, that will be shortened by ten minutes thanks to the collision.
NASA hopes the new findings will be pivotal for protecting Earth from any possible direct collisions.
Although Dimorphos was not a threat, scientists believe that the research value of the collision will be game changing.
In 2024, the European Space Agency will launch another spacecraft to visit the site of the asteroid.
Scientists hope that the spacecraft, named Hera, will be able to gather more information about the crash.
However, news of a new asteroid threat has some feeling frightened.
As an asteroid, named Bennu, is heading for earth.
The news has left the internet feeling frightened!
Although, many have also made jokes about it …
“Have we got time for one more round?” one laughed.
Another added: “It isn’t real until the Simpsons predict it!”
The asteroid has been circling past earth every sixth September for many years.
And now, scientists know when they can expect it to hit the earth.
It’s going to hit with the impact of 22 atomic bombs.
Meaning NASA are working to stop this from happening!
Richard Burns, project manager for OSIRIS-REx at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, has revealed all.
“We are now in the final leg of this seven-year journey.”
“It feels very much like the last few miles of a marathon, with a confluence of emotions like pride and joy coexisting with a determined focus to complete the race well.”
However, there is still an “extremely small chance” Bennu will hit Earth on September 24, 2182.
Bennu itself measures one third of a mile wide.
Meaning if it does hit, devastation will be felt for 600 miles around.
It’s half the size of the asteroid that is thought to have killed dinosaurs
So, not quite big enough to cause worldwide extinction – phew!
But now, another story from space has people feeling worried.
As it’s been revealed that Saturn’s iconic rings are set to disappear.
The rings of space debris won’t actually disappear for 100 million years.
However, they are set to disappear from view in 2025!
This is because of the way the planet tilts.
“The next event following 2025 will be a triple one again: October 15, 2038, and then April 1, and July 9, 2039,” NASA have explained.
We last experienced the disappearing rings phenomenon in September 2009 and before that, February 1996.
Did you know about these potential disappearing rings?