Potentially dangerous asteroid 1997 QK1 approaches Earth
21 July 2025 17:55
On Wednesday, August 20, the asteroid 1997 QK1, which NASA classifies as potentially dangerous, will fly by the Earth.
This was reported by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), "Komersant Ukrainian" reports.
According to experts, the length of the celestial object is about 322.5 meters, and the minimum distance to our planet during the approach will reach about 3.01 million kilometers.
NASA considers potentially dangerous those objects that are larger than 150 meters and approach the Earth closer than 7.5 million kilometers. Asteroid 1997 QK1 meets both of these criteria.
An asteroid is a celestial body, usually rocky or metallic, that orbits the Sun but is not a planet or comet.
Main characteristics:
- Size: from a few meters to hundreds of kilometers in diameter.
- Shape: Mostly irregular in shape.
- Origin: They are believed to be remnants from the formation of the solar system – materials from which planets did not form.
Where they are located:
- Most asteroids are concentrated in the asteroid belt between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter.
- Some occur closer to Earth – they are called near-Earth asteroids.
Are they dangerous?
Some asteroids can pose a threat to Earth if their orbit crosses Earth’s. If the asteroid is large and hits the planet, it could have catastrophic consequences. Such objects are called potentially hazardous.
