Asteroid the size of Leaning Tower of Pisa may hit Earth on Valentine's Day 2046, says NASA

At present, the speed of the asteroid relative to the sun is 24.63 kph and the asteroid takes close to 271 days to finish a single solar orbit. (Representational Image)

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has said that an asteroid named "2023 DW", which is approaching the Earth, has the possibility to strike the planet on Valentine's Day (February 14) of 2046.

NASA has been tracking the asteroid, whose diameter is 49.29 metres and is at a distance of 0.12 astronomical units (AU) from Earth. As per the Daily Mail, the rough size of the asteroid was close to that of the Leaning Tower of Pisa and if it does smash the Earth, the impact of the destruction could rival the Tunguska impact 114 years ago when the asteroid exploded 5-10 kilometres above planet Earth.

“We've been tracking a new asteroid named 2023 DW that has a very small chance of impacting Earth in 2046. Often when new objects are first discovered, it takes several weeks of data to reduce the uncertainties and adequately predict their orbits years into the future," NASA Asteroid Watch tweeted.

We've been tracking a new asteroid named 2023 DW that has a very small chance of impacting Earth in 2046. Often when new objects are first discovered, it takes several weeks of data to reduce the uncertainties and adequately predict their orbits years into the future. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/SaLC0AUSdP

— NASA Asteroid Watch (@AsteroidWatch) March 7, 2023

"Orbit analysts will continue to monitor asteroid 2023 DW and update predictions as more data comes in," the space agency said.

At present, the speed of the asteroid relative to the sun is 24.63 kmph and the asteroid takes close to 271 days to finish a single solar orbit.

ALSO READ: NASA’s Perseverance rover shows off Mars sample collection, have a look

Space scientists, however, do believe that the asteroid striking the planet is unlikely and believe that the nearest the asteroid will get to planet Earth is 1,828,086 km.

In the event of the asteroid posing any threat to Earth, NASA does have mechanisms in place such as the planetary defense system which combines all the capabilities required to identify the possibility of the asteroid impacting Earth and prevent their possible effects on the planet.