NASA Monitors Potentially Hazardous Asteroid Approaching Earth This Week

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is keeping a close eye on a potentially hazardous asteroid set to pass by Earth on Tuesday. Dubbed 2024 ON, this asteroid measures approximately 350 meters in length and 180 meters in width, which translates to about 1,150 feet by 590 feet—surpassing earlier size estimates.

Astaeroid Details and Distance from Earth

NASA categorizes 2024 ON as a “stadium-sized” object. As of Tuesday morning, the asteroid was reported to be 621,000 miles away from our planet, a distance that scientists consider relatively close. Davide Farnocchia, a navigation engineer at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, noted that an asteroid of this dimension passing this closely occurs only once every five to ten years.

Historical Context of Large Asteroids

Farnocchia, who works at the laboratory’s Center for Near-Earth Object Studies, recalled that the most recent significant meteor to enter Earth’s atmosphere happened in Russia in 2013. He emphasized the rarity of an object the size of 2024 ON impacting Earth, stating, “We haven’t seen a meteor of this size since prehistoric times.” This context underscores the unique nature of such near-Earth encounters.

Assessing Collision Risks

Although 2024 ON qualifies as a potentially hazardous object due to its proximity, Farnocchia reassured the public that there is no danger of an impact. He explained, “The asteroid would need to be within a couple of hundred miles to raise any concerns.” In fact, NASA’s evaluations extend over the next century, confirming no collision risk for at least the next 100 years.

Other Asteroids Approaching Earth

2024 ON is one of five asteroids anticipated to glide past Earth within a couple of days. However, the other asteroids will not come nearly as close, with distances ranging from 1.1 to 3.9 million miles away. Out of these, three measure around 51 feet in diameter—the size of a typical house. Meanwhile, another asteroid, known as 2013 FW13, which is about 510 feet in diameter, is scheduled to make its approach on Wednesday.

Using NASA’s Asteroid Watch Dashboard

NASA provides real-time monitoring through its Asteroid Watch Dashboard, which tracks asteroids and comets making close approaches to Earth. As of Tuesday morning, 2024 ON was traveling at an impressive velocity of approximately 8.8 kilometers per second, equivalent to nearly 20,000 miles per hour.

Understanding the Asteroid Watch Dashboard

The Asteroid Watch Dashboard offers crucial information, including the date of closest approach, estimated size, and relative distance from Earth for each asteroid. The dashboard highlights the next five objects approaching within a margin of 4.6 million miles (7.5 million kilometers or about 19.5 times the distance to the moon). Notably, any object larger than 150 meters that approaches this distance is classified as a potentially hazardous object.

Navigating Future Earth Threats

As technology evolves, so does NASA’s capacity to monitor and evaluate the trajectory of near-Earth objects. Such initiatives help inform both the scientific community and the general public about the potential risks asteroids may pose. With constant advancements in asteroid monitoring techniques, NASA remains committed to safeguarding Earth and increasing our understanding of these celestial bodies.