Friends of the asteroid, here we go again: JF1, a celestial object of an estimated size like those of the Great Pyramid of Giza could hit the Earth on May 6, 2022, according to a statement released by NASA.
Here we are again with the asteroid alarm: although there is currently a chance in 3.800 that this will happen (on balance and given the previous ones it is not so little, even if for the math it is 0,026%), the asteroid JF1 that can hit the Earth still inspires fear.
The asteroid JF1, a small apocalypse
The scenario would be devastating, as in the apocalyptic films seen in recent years, or even worse: if the "city-killer" asteroid they named JF1 should hit the Earth, the impact would be equivalent to the detonation of 230 kilotons of TNT. It is a power 15 times greater than that released by the atomic bomb that hit Hiroshima in 1945. In that case, "only" 15 kilotons were enough to raze the entire Japanese city.
Even if the asteroid were to avoid civilization and strike "the most remote part of the Pacific Ocean" (so the statement reads), the impact would still be powerful enough to cause devastating tsunamis and a "nuclear winter lasting several years".
Scientists estimate that the massive asteroid is around 130 meters in diameter, and for this reason since 2009 (the year of its discovery) it has been constantly monitored by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL).
We give thanks to Sentry, "space eye"
NASA JPL is keeping an eye on the giant asteroid JF1 through Sentry, "a highly automated collision monitoring system".
Sentry continuously analyzes the most updated asteroid database possible, monitoring the trajectories of those who have the greatest chance of a future impact with Earth in the next 100 years.
Asteroid JF1 is the most suspect right now, but open eyes will allow us to see a little in advance (hopefully, even if lately it's not like that) the dangers.
