Asteroid watch: Building-sized asteroid set to pass Earth today by close margin, reveals NASA | Tech News

Asteroid watch: Building-sized asteroid set to pass Earth today by close margin, reveals NASA

NASA has revealed that one asteroid has been tracked in its orbit which will make its closest approach to Earth today, March 19. From size, speed to distance of approach, know all about this building-sized asteroid.

By: HT TECH
| Updated on: Mar 19 2024, 10:43 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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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Asteroid 2024 BD7 belongs to the Apollo group of Near-Earth Asteroids (NEAs), as per NASA. (Pixabay)

NASA says as many as four asteroids passed Earth yesterday and all of them did so by close distances. The biggest of them was Asteroid 2024 BD7 which had a width of almost 140 feet, making it almost as big as an aircraft. Now, the US Space Agency has revealed that just one asteroid has been tracked in its orbit which will make its closest approach to Earth today, March 19. However, it is bigger than all of the asteroids that passed the planet yesterday! From size, speed to distance of approach, know all about this building-sized asteroid.

Also Read: 140-foot asteroid predicted to pass Earth - Check details

Asteroid 2024 BD7

NASA's Center for Near-Earth Object Studies or CNEOS has designated the oncoming asteroid as Asteroid 2024 BD7. This organization is responsible for keeping an eye on celestial objects like comets and asteroids. Such objects which pass Earth in close proximity are known as Near-Earth Objects (NEOs). 

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During its close approach, Asteroid 2024 BD7 will pass the planet at a distance of 7.2 million kilometers, according to NASA. It has been tracked in its orbit moving at a breakneck speed of about 36507 kilometers per hour! This is even faster than an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM)!

Is it dangerous?

NASA says that while this asteroid is much bigger in size than the ones that passed Earth yesterday, it does not pose any threat to life and property, and it is not expected to impact the surface. After studying the data, the space agency has revealed that Asteroid 2024 BD7 is 440 feet wide, which makes it nearly as big as a building!

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

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.

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First Published Date: 19 Mar, 10:43 IST
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