Today, an asteroid is speeding past Earth at a rate of over 40,000 miles per hour. NASA has reported that this particular asteroid, named 2024 MT-1, will come within 936,000 miles of our planet, which is considered a close encounter in space terms.
Although 2024 MT-1 will be making its closest approach to Earth during its orbit around the sun, there is no cause for concern as it poses no threat to life on our planet. This asteroid, with a width of just over 79 meters, takes about 1.2 years to complete its orbit around the sun. To put this into perspective, the height of Westminster Abbey’s tower is around 68 meters.
Asteroids are small rocky objects that orbit the sun, typically composed of dusty, metallic, and rocky materials. While most asteroids are found within the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, some, like 2024 MT-1, follow paths that bring them into the inner solar system.
NASA’s Planetary Defense office actively monitors asteroids and meteors that could potentially endanger life on Earth. Any object larger than approximately 150 meters that comes within 4.6 million miles of Earth is classified as a “potentially hazardous object” by the agency. However, 2024 MT-1 does not meet this criteria due to its smaller size.
In addition to the passing of 2024 MT-1, NASA has observed five small asteroids in June that approached Earth closer than the moon. Furthermore, the agency has estimated that around 100 tonnes of dust and sand-sized particles hit the Earth daily from space.
As we continue to study and observe these celestial bodies, NASA remains vigilant in its efforts to ensure the safety and security of our planet from potential space threats. While today’s asteroid flyby is a fascinating astronomical event, it serves as a reminder of the ongoing work being done to protect Earth from any potential risks posed by objects in space.
