This October, a massive asteroid the size of a city is heading towards Earth, with its closest approach expected on October 27. Named 1036 Ganymed, this near-Earth asteroid, measuring approximately 37.7 km in diameter—comparable to the size of Houston, Texas—is one of the largest objects of its kind.
Asteroids are rocky, irregular-shaped bodies that orbit the Sun, primarily found in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. Experts in the UAE have been closely observing this event to assess any potential risks.
Mohammad Shawkat Odeh, Director of the International Astronomy Centre in Abu Dhabi, explains: “Ganymed completes an orbit around the sun every four years, meaning we can anticipate its approach at least once within that time frame. However, it doesn’t come very close to Earth, with a minimum distance of approximately 51 million km, which is quite significant.”
Does Ganymed Pose a Threat to Earth?
According to UAE experts, Ganymed is classified as an “Amor” asteroid. This means its orbit approaches Earth but does not intersect with it, posing no risk of collision.
When Can You See Ganymed from Dubai?
Dr. Sarath Raj, Director at Amity Dubai Satellite Ground Station and AmiSat, assures that the asteroid’s safe distance from Earth makes it an ideal observation event: “The safe distance ensures there is no risk of collision with Earth, making it an ideal event for observation.”
He continues, explaining the best time to see the asteroid: “From Dubai, the asteroid will become visible through telescopes in the evening at approximately 6:36pm (GMT+04), positioned 52° above the eastern horizon as dusk fades. It will reach its highest point in the sky, 80° above the southern horizon, at around 9:12pm. Observation will remain possible until approximately 2:03am when it will descend below 21° above the western horizon.”
NEOs and the Importance of Tracking
NASA has identified six near-Earth objects (NEOs) passing Earth around October 24, none of which pose any danger. However, their close approach emphasizes the importance of monitoring NEOs for potential risks. These asteroids, remnants from the early solar system’s formation 4.6 billion years ago, offer valuable scientific insight.
UAE’s Asteroid Belt Initiative
The UAE is playing a vital role in asteroid research with its pioneering Emirates Mission to the Asteroid Belt (EMA). This program, aimed at exploring asteroids in the main belt, goes beyond scientific discovery to support the UAE’s space industry. The EMA mission investigates the origins and composition of the solar system and seeks the building blocks of life within the asteroid belt.
Could Comets Be a Threat?
Like asteroids, comets can also potentially threaten Earth, though significant impacts are rare. Unlike asteroids, which are made of rock and metal, comets consist of ice, dust, and rocky materials, traveling faster than their asteroid counterparts.
The most famous example of an impact event is the one that caused the extinction of dinosaurs 66 million years ago. The largest comet currently visible in the sky, 109P/Swift-Tuttle, has a diameter of 26km, nearly double the size of the asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs. Despite its size, Swift-Tuttle poses no danger to Earth and is responsible for the annual Perseid meteor shower. Its closest approach to the Sun occurs every 133 years, at a distance of 142.5 million km.
Stay tuned for this rare astronomical event and enjoy the opportunity to witness a city-sized asteroid safely passing by our planet.
