Apollo asteroid to pass Earth today, reveals NASA; From size to speed, know details | Tech News

Apollo asteroid to pass Earth today, reveals NASA; From size to speed, know details

NASA says an Apollo asteroid is expected to pass Earth by a close margin today, April 3. From size, speed to distance of approach, know all about Asteroid 2024 FL3.

By: HT TECH
| Updated on: Apr 03 2024, 11:21 IST
5 asteroids will pass Earth in the coming days, reveals NASA; Know the size, speed, and more
Asteroid
1/6 Asteroid 2024 ER4: The first asteroid on the list is Asteroid 2024 ER4, which will come close to Earth on March 17, 2024. The space rock is estimated to be 37 feet wide and moving at a speed of 29879 kilometres per hour. On the specified date, the asteroid 2024 EH will approach within 162,000 kilometres. (Pixabay)
Asteroid
2/6 Asteroid 2024 ER4: The first asteroid on the list is Asteroid 2024 ER4, which will come close to Earth on March 17, 2024. The space rock is estimated to be 37 feet wide and moving at a speed of 29879 kilometres per hour. On the specified date, the asteroid 2024 EH will approach within 162,000 kilometres. (Pixabay)
Asteroid
3/6 Asteroid 2024 EP3: The next asteroid, Asteroid 2024 EP3, is 130 feet wide and will travel past the earth on March 17, 2024. The asteroid is travelling at 32193 kilometres per hour and will pass the planet at a distance of 4230000 kilometres  (Pixabay)
Asteroid
4/6 JPL reports that the asteroid 2024 ED3 is 96 feet across. The space rock is flying at 35808 kilometres per hour and will pass close to Earth on March 18, 2024. On the specified day, the asteroid will pass by Earth at a distance of around 135000 kilometres. (Pixabay)
Asteroid
5/6 Asteroid 2024 EN: The next space rock is Asteroid 2024 EN, which measures 140 feet wide. The asteroid is expected to come near to Earth on March 9, 2024. According to NASA, the asteroid is hurtling at 43101 miles per hour and will pass Earth at a distance of 1.4 million kilometres. (NASA)
Asteroid
6/6 Asteroid 2024 EN3: The last asteroid scheduled to approach Earth is Asteroid 2024 EN3, which is predicted to be 55 feet wide. The asteroid is now moving at a speed of 22855 kilometres per hour. It is expected to pass within 2.1 million kilometres of Earth. (Pixabay)
Asteroid
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Asteroid 2024 FL3 belongs to the Apollo group of Near-Earth Asteroids (NEAs), says NASA. (Pixabay)

In recent months, Asteroids have been passing by Earth in large numbers. Just yesterday, as many as three asteroids passed the planet by a close margin. Two of them were 100 feet wide, making them almost as big as an aircraft. While such space rocks pass Earth closely on many occasions, they are not likely to impact the surface. However, this can change anytime if they interact with the gravitational field of a large planet like Jupiter, which can send them tumbling towards a planet, raising a potential impact scenario. NASA has now revealed that the orbit of another asteroid will bring it close to Earth today, April 3.

Also Read: Three asteroids to pass Earth by a narrow margin

Asteroid 2024 FL3

According to NASA, Asteroid 2024 FL3 is just one of the many asteroids that revolve around the Sun in their orbit. These space rocks are present in the main asteroid belt which is located between the orbits of Jupiter and Mars. NASA's Center for Near-Earth Object Studies or CNEOS has the responsibility of tracking and categorizing celestial objects such as asteroids and comets.

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This organization has now revealed that Asteroid 2024 FL3 will pass by Earth at a distance of 3.2 million kilometers. It is travelling in its orbit at a speed of approximately 34675 kilometes per hour. 

It belongs to the Apollo group of Near-Earth Asteroids, which are Earth-crossing space rocks with semi-major axes larger than Earth's. These asteroids are named after the humongous 1862 Apollo asteroid, discovered by German astronomer Karl Reinmuth in the 1930s.

Also Read: What are asteroids and how ESA is tracking them

How big is it?

According to NASA, Asteroid 2024 FL3 is 100 feet wide, making it almost as big as an aircraft. While the asteroid is not expected to impact Earth, it has still been designated as a Near-Earth Asteroid (NEA) due to its close approach to the planet.

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First Published Date: 03 Apr, 11:21 IST
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