Five asteroids are approaching Earth today. Here’s everything you need to know about these space rocks.
Our ever-wondrous night sky is about to get a little busier! Skywatchers and space enthusiasts around the globe are turning their gaze upwards today, Saturday, April 13, 2024, as NASA has announced the close approach of five asteroids. While headlines about celestial objects hurtling towards Earth can sometimes spark moments of panic, NASA assures us there’s no immediate cause for alarm. Let’s delve deeper into the details of these five asteroids and explore how NASA keeps a watchful eye on near-Earth objects.
A Celestial Parade Approaches Earth
The five asteroids visiting our cosmic neighbourhood today are a diverse bunch, varying in size and distance from Earth. Here’s a closer look at each celestial visitor:
2024 GV3: This bus-sized asteroid, measuring approximately 22 feet wide, will be the closest visitor of the group. It’s expected to zip past our planet at a staggering speed of 39,384 kilometres per hour. However, despite its speed, it will maintain a safe distance of 510,410 kilometres from Earth, roughly 1.3 times the Earth-Moon distance. It’s classified as a member of the Apollo group of near-Earth asteroids, known for their orbits exceeding Earth’s but occasionally intersecting our path around the Sun.
2024 GT2: Another bus-sized asteroid, this one measuring 38.5 feet wide, belongs to the same Apollo group as 2024 GV3. While slightly larger, it will travel at a slower speed of 24,408 kilometres per hour and maintain a more significant distance from Earth, passing by at 876,716 kilometres.
2024 FP3: This larger object, categorised as airplane-sized at 71 feet wide, is also part of the Apollo group. Travelling at a speed of 22,824 kilometres per hour, it will make its closest approach at a distance of 1 million kilometres from Earth.
2021 GQ5: This bus-sized asteroid, measuring 23 feet wide, belongs to the Aten group, a different classification of near-Earth asteroids. It will have the least dramatic close encounter of the five, travelling at a speed of 26,892 kilometres per hour and passing by at a safe distance of 3.3 million kilometres from Earth.
2024 GE3: The final visitor, another airplane-sized asteroid at 70 feet wide, is part of the Apollo group. It will travel at a speed of 26,568 kilometres per hour and make its closest approach at a comfortable distance of 3.8 million kilometres from Earth.
Should You Worry?
So, while these asteroids are certainly large and moving at incredible speeds, NASA assures us they are all well within safe distances and pose no threat to Earth. The agency actively monitors the trajectories of near-Earth objects (NEOs) and has established a size and distance threshold to classify potentially hazardous objects (PHOs). According to NASA, only objects larger than about 150 meters (492 feet) in diameter that can approach Earth within 4.6 million miles (7.5 million kilometres) are considered PHOs.
How Does NASA Track Space Rocks?
NASA employs a sophisticated network of ground-based observatories to track NEOs. These include renowned institutions like Pan-STARRS, the Catalina Sky Survey, and NASA’s NEOWISE mission. Additionally, the upcoming NEO Surveyor mission will further enhance NASA’s tracking capabilities.
Furthermore, planetary radar initiatives like the Jet Propulsion Laboratory’s (JPL) Goldstone Solar System Radar Group play a crucial role in refining asteroid data and determining their compositions. This comprehensive approach allows NASA to not only identify potential threats but also gather valuable scientific data about these celestial objects.