Asteroid to pass Earth at a breakneck 20763 kmph today, says NASA; Know how close it will get

NASA has revealed details of an upcoming close encounter with an asteroid that is nearly the size of a car! Know its speed, distance of approach, and more, as per the US Space Agency.

As per the details issued by NASA’s Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS), an asteroid designated as Asteroid 2024 BA3 is expected to pass Earth by a close margin today, January 30. It is one of the two asteroids that will pass Earth today, alongside Asteroid 2007 EG. (Pixabay)

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1/5 As per the details issued by NASA’s Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS), an asteroid designated as Asteroid 2024 BA3 is expected to pass Earth by a close margin today, January 30. It is one of the two asteroids that will pass Earth today, alongside Asteroid 2007 EG. (Pixabay)

This asteroid is expected to pass Earth at a distance of approximately 599,000 kilometers. It is already travelling towards Earth in its orbit at 20763 kilometers per hour which is almost as fast as Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs)! (Pixabay)

2/5 This asteroid is expected to pass Earth at a distance of approximately 599,000 kilometers. It is already travelling towards Earth in its orbit at 20763 kilometers per hour which is almost as fast as Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs)! (Pixabay)

Asteroid 2024 BA3 belongs to the Aten group of asteroids, which are Earth-crossing Near-Earth Asteroids (NEAs) with semi-major axes smaller than Earth's. They are named after the asteroid 2062 Aten and the first of its kind was discovered by American astronomer Eleanor Helin at Palomar Observatory on January 7, 1976. (Pixabay)

3/5 Asteroid 2024 BA3 belongs to the Aten group of asteroids, which are Earth-crossing Near-Earth Asteroids (NEAs) with semi-major axes smaller than Earth's. They are named after the asteroid 2062 Aten and the first of its kind was discovered by American astronomer Eleanor Helin at Palomar Observatory on January 7, 1976. (Pixabay)

According to NASA, this is not the first time that Asteroid 2024 BA3 has come close to Earth. It first passed the planet on January 29, 1977, at a distance of approximately 1.7 million kilometers. After today, it will pass the planet at a distance of 41 million kilometers on January 22, 2025. (Pixabay)

4/5 According to NASA, this is not the first time that Asteroid 2024 BA3 has come close to Earth. It first passed the planet on January 29, 1977, at a distance of approximately 1.7 million kilometers. After today, it will pass the planet at a distance of 41 million kilometers on January 22, 2025. (Pixabay)

With a width of just 19 feet, Asteroid 2024 BA3 is almost the size of a car, NASA has revealed. However, it is not big enough to pose any danger to Earth and has not been classified as a Potentially Hazardous Object. (Pixabay )

5/5 With a width of just 19 feet, Asteroid 2024 BA3 is almost the size of a car, NASA has revealed. However, it is not big enough to pose any danger to Earth and has not been classified as a Potentially Hazardous Object. (Pixabay )