Airplane-Sized Asteroid, Among Two Space Rocks, Set To Pass By Earth Today
Two asteroids, 2024 TE (car-sized) and 2024 SR4 (aircraft-sized), are on an Earth-approach path today. Will it have any impact? Read here.
Two asteroids are set to make a close pass by Earth on Thursday. While one of the asteroids is small in size, the other is significantly larger — roughly the size of a plane. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory reported that Asteroid 2024 TE and Asteroid 2024 SR4 will pass by Earth but do not pose an imminent threat to the planet.
Although asteroids hurtling towards Earth often raise concerns, they rarely have any noticeable impact on the planet. According to NASA, Earth gets over 100 tonnes of dust and sand-sized particles from outer space every day. About once a year, an asteroid of around 4 metres, which is roughly the size of a car, enters the Earth's atmosphere.
The first asteroid to pass by Earth would be 2024 TE, which is around 12 metres (41 feet) in diameter. Its closest approach would be at 1,300,000 km.
Measuring nearly 68 feet in diameter, the size of Asteroid 2024 SD3 can be compared to that of a standard aircraft. Although it is larger, it poses no imminent danger as its closest Earth approach would be 1,490,000 Km.
Which Asteroids Pose Danger To Earth?
According to NASA, any space rock less than 25 metres (82 feet) will burn up after entering the Earth's atmosphere due to friction. They are unlikely to have any significant impact. Anything larger than that may have some impact locally. But those asteroids which are bigger than 1 km (3,280 m) in diameter have the potential to cause significant damage with global effects.
How Can We Know About An Approaching Asteroid?
NASA's Planetary Defense Coordination Office (PDCO), which operates under the Planetary Science Division at NASA Headquarters in Washington, DC, is responsible for the early identification of potentially hazardous objects (PHOs), such as asteroids and comets.
NASA monitors and assesses these objects, issuing warnings about possible impacts and providing timely, precise information. Additionally, NASA oversees the coordination of the US government's efforts in planning a response to any actual impact threat.
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