2023 DZ2: It’s all about that asteroid that should pass between Earth and the Moon on Saturday

An asteroid called 2023 DZ2 measuring several tens of meters will pass between Earth and the Moon on Saturday, March 25th. A rare and risk-free phenomenon according to the European Space Agency.

It was discovered just three weeks ago. According to the European Space Agency, the asteroid 2023 DZ2, which is several tens of meters high, will pass between the Earth and the Moon on Saturday. It would be, at the earliest, 168,300 km from our planet.

According to the European Space Agency, at about 7:50 pm this asteroid, which is moving at a speed of 37 km per second, can be observed using binoculars or telescopes. It should also pass near Earth in 2026, still without danger.

“City Killer”

Discovered by scientists on February 27, this rocky body is between 40 and 100 meters across. Its monitoring will guarantee researchers from the European Space Agency (ESA) valuable data for science.

2023 DZ2 “has no chance” of hitting Earth, said Richard Moesel, head of the European Space Agency’s Planetary Defense Office, “but its close proximity provides a great opportunity for observation!”.

NASA also commented: “The approach of an asteroid of this size only happens about once every decade,” providing “a unique opportunity for science.”

Scientists call this type of asteroid “city killer” (editor’s note city killer) because of its size. Indeed, if one of them reached the planet, it could cause significant damage, especially since it would not disintegrate upon entering the atmosphere.