NASA has flagged five near-Earth asteroid approaches this month, with the closest coming within a distance of 1 million kilometres from our planet.
Key highlights:
- The closest asteroid, 2024 ON, will pass Earth at a distance of 1 million kilometres on Tuesday, 17 September 2024.
- None of the five asteroids tracked this month are expected to pose any danger.
- NASA’s Asteroid Watch Dashboard monitors these close approaches in real time.
Five asteroids approaching Earth this month
According to NASA’s Near-Earth Object (NEO) Observations Program, five asteroids will pass by Earth this September.
The largest is 2024 ON, a stadium-sized asteroid measuring around 290 metres in diameter.
This asteroid will make its closest approach on Tuesday, 17 September 2024, coming within 1 million kilometres of Earth, about 2.6 times the distance to the moon.
On the same day, two house-sized asteroids, 2024 RY10 and 2024 RR16, will pass by at distances of 1.8 million kilometres and 5.8 million kilometres, respectively.
The next day, 2013 FW13, a building-sized asteroid measuring 155 metres, will pass at a distance of 3.25 million kilometres from Earth.
Lastly, 2024 RZ13, another house-sized asteroid, will approach at 6.36 million kilometres on Wednesday.
NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory tracks these objects using its Asteroid Watch Dashboard, which monitors asteroids and comets making close approaches to Earth.
Although these objects are classified as “potentially hazardous” due to their size and proximity, none are on a collision course with Earth.
Does this pose a danger to our planet?
Despite their size and speed, NASA reassured the public that none of these approaching asteroids are expected to impact Earth.
The largest, 2024 ON, is travelling at roughly 64,000 km/h, but it will maintain a safe distance during its pass.
NASA carefully tracks all potentially hazardous asteroids, and current models show no indication of risk to Earth.
NASA explained that “even small deviations in an asteroid’s trajectory could result in significant outcomes, but current models show no such deviations for these objects.”
While these asteroids won’t be visible to the naked eye, enthusiasts with high-powered telescopes may get the chance to observe them.
