Asteroid 2024 JV33 looked like a “peanut” — “with two rounded lobes, with one lobe larger than the other,” according to a series of images captured on Aug. 18, 2024, by the Goldstone Solar System Radar near Barstow, California.
Asteroid 2024 JV33 safely passed Earth at a distance of 2.8 million miles (4.6 million km) in August. The near-Earth asteroid made its closest approach to Earth on August 19.
On National Peanut Day, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) released photos and videos of asteroid 2024 JV33. These images were taken when the asteroid was about 12 times the distance between the moon and Earth.
The asteroid was discovered on May 4 by the NASA-funded Catalina Sky Survey in Tucson, Arizona. According to NASA, the near-Earth asteroid is shaped like a peanut, with two round lobes, one larger than the other.
“Scientists used the radar images to determine that it is about 980 feet (300 meters) long and that its length is about twice as wide. Asteroid 2024 JV33 rotates every seven hours,” NASA said.
In addition, asteroid 2024 JV33 has an elongated orbit, similar to that of many comets “which are strongly influenced by Jupiter's gravity.”
“While no comet-like activity has been observed, the possibility remains that the asteroid is an inactive comet nucleus, NASA said.
Asteroid 2024 JV33 is classified as potentially hazardous, but does not pose a threat to Earth in the near future.
