NASA publishes photos of asteroid 2006 HV5, which has come close to Earth

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) has shared images of an asteroid that came close to our planet last month. The space body is called 2006 HV5.

Here's What We Know

The asteroid has made the closest approach to Earth in a century on April 25, 2023. Images of 2006 HV5 was obtained by California's GSSR, measuring 70 meters. With its help scientists have clarified the dimensions of the space body, as well as its shape and topographic features.

As it became known, the asteroid has a diameter of 300 meters, which is 7 meters less than previously thought. It is flattened at the poles and has many elevations. The threat from 2006 HV5 to our planet is still at a low level.

The asteroid is now approaching Earth and now Venus. It revolves around the Sun in 282 days. On April 25, 2006, HV5 flew 2.4 million kilometers away from our planet, which is 6.3 times more distance than the distance between our Moon and the Earth.

Source: NASA