NASA Alert: 880ft Asteroid to Buzz Earth This Week

A stadium-sized asteroid is on its way toward Earth and will soon pass by our planet. Due to its massive size and proximity, it is deemed potentially hazardous. NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, through its Asteroid Watch program, issued a warning about Asteroid 2011 AM24. This asteroid, measuring an impressive 880 feet, will make its closest approach to Earth on July 26, at a distance of 4,010,000 miles. Traveling at a speed of 22,320 km/hour, it is classified as a near-Earth object (NEO) and belongs to the Apollo group of asteroids.

Given its size and proximity, Asteroid 2011 AM24 poses a potential threat to Earth. According to NASA, asteroids are considered potentially hazardous if they come closer than 4,650,000 miles to Earth or are larger than about 140 meters (460 feet). Asteroid 2011 AM24 meets both criteria, being 880 feet in size and traveling much closer than the safe threshold.

Additionally, another asteroid, 2024 MH1, will also approach Earth on July 26. Although smaller at 91 feet, it will come much closer, at a distance of 1,115,952 miles, and travel at a speed of 20,916 km/hour. Despite its proximity, its smaller size makes it less of a threat.

 

Why NASA Monitors Asteroids

Asteroids can cause significant destruction, as seen in Earth’s history. NASA monitors these celestial bodies to identify any that might pose a threat to our planet. This vigilance helps in developing strategies to protect Earth from potential impacts. Studying asteroids also provides valuable insights into their behavior and travel patterns, aiding in the creation of safety plans.

One such initiative is the DART mission, which aims to determine if an asteroid can be deflected before it poses a danger. As part of this mission, scientists successfully hit an asteroid to study its response, breaking it into several pieces, many of which are expected to impact Mars. This experiment helps understand how we can potentially redirect hazardous asteroids in the future.