Asteroid the size of a large passenger plane is approaching Earth! NASA issues warning

Despite its approach, asteroid 2024 KN1 will safely pass Earth at a distance of 5.6 million kilometers, which is roughly 14 times further than the distance to the moon.

NASA has classified asteroid 2024 KN1 as non-threatening, stressing that it will not come close enough to pose any risk of collision. Most near-Earth objects, including those like asteroid 2024 KN1, follow orbits that keep them safely away from our planet, making them harmless. However, NASA closely monitors a small subset of asteroids known as potentially hazardous asteroids that have orbits that could bring them within a certain distance of Earth, posing a potential impact risk.

To monitor these celestial bodies, NASA's Center for Near Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) uses data from observatories around the world, including contributions from projects such as Pan-STARRS, the Catalina Sky Survey and NASA's NEOWISE mission. Radar projects such as JPL's Goldstone Solar System Radar Group also play a crucial role in tracking these space rocks.

The ongoing monitoring efforts of astronomers, significantly supported by contributions from amateurs, play a crucial role in understanding and monitoring these celestial bodies. This joint effort ensures early detection and assessment of any impact risks from near-Earth objects.

The impending approach of asteroid 2024 KN1 offers scientists a new opportunity to study these fascinating objects in our solar system. As technology and observation capabilities continue to develop, our understanding of near-Earth objects and their trajectories improves, increasing our ability to predict and mitigate potential future risks.

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Published: Jun 22, 2024 4:23 PM IST