The possibility of a planet-killing asteroid appearing out of nowhere, as shown in current media, is slim. Even smaller ones that might merely destroy a city or part of a continent attract enough attention to determine whether they’re a danger. ESA removed one of the most hazardous asteroids from their probable impact list before Asteroid Day 2022 on June 30.
2021 QM1 was discovered at Mount Lemmon on August 28, 2021. It was one among 12 near-Earth asteroids found that night and didn’t generate panic. Observations suggest it might pass Earth in 2052. 2021 QM1’s 50-meter diameter would be able to deliver six megatons of TNT at 9 kilometers (6 miles). Comparable to 400 times the intensity of the Hiroshima nuclear explosion. This large asteroid has hit Earth once in recent history. Tunguska, which produced 12 megatons of energy and is commemorated on Annual Asteroid Day, occurred over Siberia.
So when it leveled 830 square miles of forest, just three people perished. An impact over a population center might be disastrous. As asteroid defenders collected follow-up information on 2021 QM1, this incident was likely on their thoughts. Another astronomical occurrence would unnerve them. The asteroid vanished behind the Sun, preventing further investigations. Scientists awaited and prepared to acquire additional data with their Very Large Telescope.
When the asteroid appeared, they were ready. Observations reveal 2021 QM1 won’t reach Earth in 2052 as expected. Its orbital route poses no immediate threat. 2021 QM1 was not the first asteroid delisted following a sub-optimal blocking maneuver. The moon obscured views of another asteroid in February. At the time, 2022, AE1’s likely collision window was 4 July 2023. The 70 m rock could have been the most damaging asteroid we have ever witnessed.
What would we do if another asteroid posed a threat? Many strategies are in place and are best described in other sections, but asteroid defenders will maintain a watch.
