NASA Warns! Giant Asteroid Twice the Size of Taj Mahal Heading for Earth on March 26

NASA has warned that a massive asteroid is approaching Earth at an incredible speed. The asteroid, 2014 TN17, is moving towards Earth at 77,282 km/h.

According to NASA, the asteroid is 540 feet (165 meters) wide, almost twice the size of the Taj Mahal, and belongs to the Apollo group of asteroids. Scientists have categorized it as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA) due to its size and potential risk.

The classification as a PHA means the asteroid requires continuous monitoring, as it has the potential to pose a future threat. Its ability to intersect Earth’s orbit makes it a subject of close observation by astronomers.

When Will the Asteroid Pass by Earth?

Despite its classification as a PHA, Asteroid 2014 TN17 will safely pass Earth on March 26, 2025, at 5:04 PM IST, according to NASA. It will pass at a distance of 5 million kilometers, approximately 13 times the distance between Earth and the Moon. However, even a small deviation in its trajectory coauld pose a danger to Earth.

NASA’s Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) and international space agencies are continuously tracking its trajectory using NASA-funded telescopes, radar systems, and other advanced technology.

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What Will Happen if It Collides with Earth?

Scientists warn that a collision would lead to catastrophic destruction, unleashing an energy equivalent to hundreds of nuclear explosions. If the asteroid were to strike Earth, it could cause massive firestorms and alter the global climate for centuries.

For instance, the 1908 Tunguska event in Siberia, which destroyed 2,000 square kilometers of forest, was caused by an explosion from an object half the size of 2014 TN17. A similar impact today could endanger thousands lives.