A colossal asteroid so big some claim its gravitational pull
could cause earthquakes and volcanoes on Earth is set to skim past the planet
on Christmas Eve. The 1.5 mile wide slab of space rock - known as 2003 SD220 -
is so large it could potentially wipe out a continent in the case of a direct
hit.
This monster asteroid is one of 17 being closely monitored
by Nasa and other astronomy experts due to its proximity to earth.
Scientists now believe this asteroid, and some others, could
be even bigger than calculated as it is thought part of their mass may have
been shrouded in darkness.
The news may fuel rumours by conspiracy theorists that a
mysterious Planet X four times the size of Jupiter will pass the Earth this
month.
A Nasa report said: "We propose radar imaging, physical
characterisation, and orbit refinement of our 17 highest-priority NEAs for the
calendar year 2015 using 294 hours.
"Radar is arguably the most powerful Earth-based
technique for post-discovery physical and dynamical characterisation of
near-Earth asteroids (NEAs).
"Over the long term, our observations will help answer
fundamental questions regarding the origin of the diversity in asteroid
morphologies, the importance of spin-up mechanisms and collisional influences,
the interior structure and thermal properties of asteroids, and the variety of
dynamical states."
The asteroid will miss Earth by 6.7 million miles but
experts are concerned that the effect known as Yarkovsky drift could alter its
orbit, reports the Express.
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