Artificial intelligence (AI) is a fast expanding area that is having an impact across almost all industries. It even recently assisted India in becoming the first nation in the world to successfully land its lander on the lunar South Pole. In order to find asteroids, astronomers have also started using algorithms. A potentially dangerous asteroid was found by researchers with the use of the HelioLinc3D algorithm, according to a University of Washington study. During the algorithm’s testing in Hawaii, the almost 600-foot-wide asteroid 2022 SF289 was found, but it hasn’t been determined to be deadly any time soon.
With the use of its cutting-edge technology, NASA has also provided information about a new asteroid that will soon be approaching Earth. What’s known about it is as follows.
Asteroid 2023 QK5
Asteroid 2023 QK5, often known as, is now travelling towards Earth and may come within a few miles of the earth tomorrow, August 29. Asteroid 2023 QK5 is predicted to make its closest approach to Earth at a distance of just 1.5 million kilometres and a speed of 24548 kilometres per hour, or practically the speed of a space shuttle, according to information released by NASA’s Centre for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS).
It is a member of the Apollo group of Near-Earth Asteroids, which are space rocks that travel near Earth and have semi-major axes that are bigger than Earth’s. These asteroids were found in the 1930s by German astronomer Karl Reinmuth and are named after the enormous 1862 Apollo asteroid.
Asteroid 2023 QK5 has not been labelled as a potentially hazardous object because of its modest size. This space rock is about 37 feet wide, around the width of a bus. Only asteroids that are 492 feet or bigger are deemed potentially dangerous by NASA. It’s crucial to remember, though, that even tiny asteroids have the potential to harm the surface if they strike it. It is demonstrated by the 2013 Chelyabinsk meteor, which although being just 59 feet wide, damaged over 7000 structures and wounded 1200 people.
Searching asteroids with algorithm
The Vera C. Rubin Observatory in Chile will employ the technique that was used to find the asteroid 2022 SF289, according to the research. Rubin’s dataset is used by the HelioLinc3D programme to locate and track asteroids. When it becomes operational in 2025, the survey telescope, formerly known as the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope, will be utilised to investigate dark matter and discover the mysteries of the Milky Way Galaxy. Additionally, it is anticipated to increase the finding of asteroids that might pose a threat.
