A giant 540-foot asteroid as big as the Taj Mahal is set for a close encounter with Earth on this date

NASA's asteroid alert: space rock hitting Earth (Image: AI generated)

A giant space rock is moving towards Earth at great speed. Asteroid 2014 TN17 is travelling at 77,282 km/h and will pass by soon. This asteroid is as big as the Taj Mahal and belongs to the Apollo group. Scientists have classified it as a potentially hazardous asteroid due to its size and path.

When Will the Asteroid Pass by Earth?
Asteroid 2014 TN17 will make its closest approach on March 26 at 5:04 PM IST. It will pass 5 million kilometres away, about 13 times the distance between Earth and the Moon. While this is a safe distance, its classification as a hazardous asteroid means it will be monitored closely.

Apollo asteroids follow an orbit that crosses Earth's path. Most of them pass safely, but a small shift in their trajectory could be dangerous. Gravitational forces or collisions with space debris might push them toward Earth in the future.

What If It Struck Earth?
A collision with an asteroid this size could be disastrous. The impact could release energy equal to hundreds of nuclear bombs. It might flatten entire regions, spark massive fires, and change weather patterns for years.

For comparison, the 1908 Tunguska event in Siberia destroyed 2,000 square kilometres of forest. That explosion was caused by an object only half the size of 2014 TN17. If a similar event happened over a city today, the casualties could be in the millions.

Who Is Tracking These Asteroids?
NASA’s Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) and other agencies monitor asteroids like 2014 TN17. They use telescopes, radar, and even amateur astronomers for tracking. Despite this, some space rocks go unnoticed until they are very close to Earth.

Scientists continue to study and track such objects to ensure our planet stays safe.