2024 has seen a continuation of the trend from the past year, with asteroid approaches occurring on most days. NASA, utilizing its advanced ground and space-based telescopes, has identified four asteroids that are set to pass Earth at close distances today, February 22. While these space rocks pose no threat to life on our planet, their close approaches serve as a reminder of the importance of monitoring their orbits.
Asteroid 2024 DW
- Distance from Earth: Just 225,000 kilometers, even closer than the Moon!
- Speed: Travelling at a staggering 64,451 kilometers per hour, nearly as fast as a space shuttle!
- Size: Approximately 42 feet wide, comparable to the dimensions of a house.
- Group: Belongs to the Apollo group of Near-Earth Asteroids, named after the massive 1862 Apollo asteroid discovered by German astronomer Karl Reinmuth in the 1930s.
Asteroid 2024 DX
- Distance from Earth: Expected to fly past Earth at a close margin of approximately 775,000 kilometers today.
- Speed: Travelling at 37,471 kilometers per hour.
- Size: Approximately 39 feet wide, akin to the dimensions of a bus.
- Group: Also part of the Apollo group of asteroids.
Asteroid 2024 CE8
- Distance from Earth: Coming as close as 4.05 million kilometers to our planet.
- Speed: Already travelling in its orbit around the Sun at 67,818 kilometers per hour.
- Size: Nearly 90 feet wide.
- Group: Another member of the Apollo group of asteroids.
Asteroid 2024 DJ1
- Distance from Earth: Expected to pass at a distance of approximately 4.8 million kilometers.
- Speed: Racing through space at 48,468 kilometers per hour.
- Size: The largest of the four, with a width of around 111 feet.
- Group: Also classified as a Near-Earth asteroid within the Apollo group.
Remember, while these Near-Earth Asteroids, they are not expected to impact our planet. Nevertheless, continuous monitoring remains crucial to understanding their trajectories and ensuring our safety in the vast cosmic expanse.
