NASA warns of asteroid 2014 TN17 approaching Earth

NASA has issued a warning about a large asteroid named 2014 TN17. This asteroid is about 540 feet wide and is traveling towards Earth at a speed of 77,282 kilometers per hour. It is nearly twice the size of the Taj Mahal and is considered a potentially hazardous asteroid (PHA). The asteroid will make its closest approach to Earth on March 26 at 5:04 PM IST. However, it will be more than 5 million kilometers away, which is over 13 times the distance between Earth and the Moon. Despite this safe distance, its classification as a PHA raises alarms, as these asteroids could pose risks in the future. Apollo asteroids, like 2014 TN17, have orbits that cross Earth's path. While most of them pass by without incident, any change in their trajectory could potentially lead to a collision with our planet. If an asteroid of this size were to hit Earth, the impact could be catastrophic. Estimates suggest it could release energy similar to hundreds of nuclear bombs, causing widespread destruction. NASA's Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) and various international space agencies are actively monitoring such asteroids. They use data from telescopes, radar systems, and contributions from amateur astronomers. Nevertheless, many asteroids go undetected until they are very close to Earth.