New calculations indicate there are an unknown number of asteroids orbiting Venus that are capable of destroying cities and could pose a threat to our planet in the future. (Image credit: Getty Images)
A hidden swarm of space objects known as co-orbital asteroids is likely orbiting Venus and could pose an “invisible danger” to Earth for millennia if they go undetected, new simulations suggest. However, there is no immediate threat to our planet right now, the researchers told Live Science.
Co-orbital asteroids are bodies that orbit the Sun close to a planet or other large body, but do not orbit the more massive object. There are currently 20 known co-orbitals around Venus — from “Trojan asteroids” that orbit either ahead of or behind the planet in its orbital plane to a closely orbiting “quasi-moon” known as Zoozve — all likely originating in the solar system’s main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. Dozens of similar co-orbitals also follow Earth, and new ones are being discovered all the time.
All Venusian space objects are likely larger than 460 feet (140 meters) in diameter—large enough to be considered “city killers,” since they could potentially destroy densely populated areas if they collided with our planet.
You may like
Sourse: www.livescience.com
