By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions.
Accept
Okay.ngOkay.ngOkay.ng
Font ResizerAa
  • News
    • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Business & Economy
  • Sport
  • Tech
Reading: Massive Asteroid to Pass Earth On Christmas Eve
Share
Font ResizerAa
Okay.ngOkay.ng
  • News
  • Entertainment
  • Business & Economy
  • Sport
  • Tech
Search
  • News
    • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Business & Economy
  • Sport
  • Tech
Follow US
  • About Okay.ng
  • Advertising on Okay.ng
  • Contact Okay.ng
  • Careers
  • Meet the Team behind Okay.ng
  • Ownership and Funding of Okay.ng
  • Editorial Principles at Okay.ng
© OKN MEDIA PUBLISHING 2022 - All rights reserved
News

Massive Asteroid to Pass Earth On Christmas Eve

Farouk Mohammed
By Farouk Mohammed
Published: December 15, 2015
Share
3 Min Read
SHARE

Asteroid

A 1.5 mile-wide asteroid is expected to make its closest approach to Earth on Christmas Eve.

Asteroid 2003 SD220, also known as asteroid 163899, will pass our planet from 6.7 million miles (11 million km) away – 28 times farther than the moon.

Despite its huge distance, reports have circulated the asteroid could cause earthquakes and trigger volcanoes on Earth.

- Advertisement -

But experts have dismissed these claims, saying that there is no scientific evidence to back up these theories.

Discovered back in 2003, asteroid 163899 will only be visible to people using a telescope.

It currently moving at a speed of 17.5 miles/second, and appears to take about one week to rotate fully week.

Nasa says the space rock will make a return to Earth in 2018, but it will pose no threat to our planet for at least 200 years.

- Advertisement -

If it were closer to Earth, a direct hit from such a huge asteroid could be enough to destroy a whole continent.

According to the Idea Girl Severe Storm Predictions Warnings website 2003 SD220 could have enough gravitational pull on Earth to trigger earthquakes or volcanoes.

But Eddie Irizarry writes at EarthSky: ‘Those assertions are misleading and incorrect.

‘Even if 2003 SD220 were passing closer, it’s doubtful earthquakes would result.

‘In fact, there’s no scientific evidence that an asteroid’s flyby can cause any seismic activity, unless it collides with Earth, but – in this case – that clearly will not be the case.’

Nasa has listed the asteroid as a ‘potential human-accessible target’ and astronomers will be tracking it over the coming weeks.

According to its Near-Earth Object Observations Program, which scans the skies for potential threats, there are no asteroids or comets that could impact the Earth anytime in the ‘foreseeable future.

In fact, of all known potentially hazardous asteroids, there is a 0.01 per cent chance one of them will impact Earth in the next 100 years.

Of course, this does not mean there is not an unseen asteroid or comet hurtling towards Earth, but officials say anything big enough to cause the damage being predicted for September would have been seen by now.

In September, Paul Chodas, manager of Nasa’s Near-Earth Object office at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, said: ‘There is no existing evidence that an asteroid or any other celestial object is on a trajectory that will impact Earth.

‘In fact, not a single one of the known objects has any credible chance of hitting our planet over the next century.

Nasa tracks around 12,992 near-Earth objects which have been discovered orbiting within our solar system close to our own orbit.

It estimates around 1,607 are classified as Potentially Hazardous Asteroids.

Stay Updated on the Go with Our Latest News—Join Our WhatsApp Channel Now!
TAGGED:AsteroidChristmas
Share This Article
Facebook Whatsapp Whatsapp Telegram Email Copy Link Print
ByFarouk Mohammed
Publisher
Follow:
Farouk Mohammed is a Head Editor at Okay Nigeria (Okay.ng). He has been publishing for 10 years and focused more on Local/World News on Okay.ng
Previous Article Vandals Attack Facebook Building in Germany.
Next Article Mourinho’s Comments After Chelsea’s 2 – 1 Loss to Leicester City (READ)

Connect with Okay on Social

FacebookLike
XFollow
InstagramFollow
TelegramFollow

Dollar/Naira Rates

Dollar to Naira Exchange Rate

Okay.ng Logo
Buy Rate ₦1,605.00
Sell Rate ₦1,620.00

Last updated: 4 days ago (June 3, 2025 2:33 pm)

Displayed rates are for informational purposes only and are subject to change.

USD/NGN Converter

- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -
Ad imageAd image
- Advertisement -
Ad imageAd image

Recent Posts

Pastor Adeboye
Pastor Adeboye Shares Divine Directive: Leaving RCCG Could Lead to Tragic Loss
News
Anglican Bishop of Lafia Calls on President Tinubu to Address Root Causes of Nigeria’s Insecurity and Economic Woes
News
Egbe Bobakeye Okunrin Akile Ijebu Refutes False Claims About Queen Elizabeth II’s 1956 Visit
News
NRC Managing Director Warns Against Railway Vandalism: “We Don’t Have Scraps, We Have National Assets”
News
Tragic Head-On Collision in Jigawa Claims Nine Lives, Dozens Injured
News
- Advertisement -
Ad imageAd image

You May Also Like

Sport

Victor Osimhen Returns to Nigeria as Al Hilal Transfer Hangs in Balance Ahead of FIFA Club World Cup

Oluwadara Akingbohungbe
Oluwadara Akingbohungbe
June 7, 2025
News

Tinubu Urged by PDP to Cut Fuel and Electricity Costs Amid Eid-el-Kabir Festivities

Oluwadara Akingbohungbe
Oluwadara Akingbohungbe
June 7, 2025
Mike Ejeagha
News

Mike Ejeagha, Nigerian Highlife Maestro, Dies at 95

Muhammad A. Aliyu
Muhammad A. Aliyu
June 7, 2025
Okay.ngOkay.ng
Follow US
© OKN MEDIA PUBLISHING 2025 - All rights reserved
  • About Okay.ng
  • Advertising on Okay.ng
  • Contact Okay.ng
  • Careers
  • Meet the Team behind Okay.ng
  • Ownership and Funding of Okay.ng
  • Editorial Principles at Okay.ng
adbanner
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?