#impact-risk

#impact-risk

Astronomers say the space rock, called 2026 JH2, is up to four times the size of a London bus and will get 'as close as you can without hitting'. It is expected to zoom by our planet at an estimated distance of around 56,000 miles (90,000km) late on Monday night. This is exceptionally close - the equivalent of just a quarter of the distance between us and the moon.

Musk said that 3I/Atlas could "kill most of human life" and the interstellar object has baffled top Astrophysicists over the past months. Physicist Dr Avi Loeb has said that 3I/Atlas could be an "alien mothership" UFO boffins believe the interstellar object could be trying to make contact with Earth. Musk told the Joe Rogan Experience podcast that the object "could be alien, I don't know," however it is an unusual comet.

The Taurid meteor shower blooms when Earth flies through debris left behind by Comet 2P/Encke. Encke has among the shortest orbital periods of all comets identified by scientists to date, completing one loop around the sun every 3.3 years. As the object zips around the warmest part of that loop near the sun, its ice turns to gas, which causes the comet to shed dust and other material.