A 66-foot asteroid, named 2024 LZ2, is hurtling through space at a staggering speed of 72,641 km/h.
On June 14, 2024, an airplane-sized asteroid named 2024 LZ2, part of the Apollo group, will make a close approach to Earth.
This asteroid, measuring about 66 feet (20 metres) in size, will speed by at a staggering 72,641 kilometres per hour (45,147 miles per hour).
CNEOS meticulously monitors asteroids and comets that come close to Earth, providing crucial data to NASA's Planetary Defense Coordination Office.
Radar projects, such as JPL's Goldstone Solar System Radar Group, also play a critical role in NASA's asteroid observation program.
A 66-foot asteroid, named 2024 LZ2, is hurtling through space at a staggering speed of 72,641 km/h.
On June 14, 2024, an airplane-sized asteroid named 2024 LZ2, part of the Apollo group, will make a close approach to Earth. This asteroid, measuring about 66 feet (20 metres) in size, will speed by at a staggering 72,641 kilometres per hour (45,147 miles per hour). The closest approach will occur at 18:16 UTC, which translates to 11:46 PM IST on the same day.
NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory manages the tracking of this asteroid through its Center for Near Earth Object Studies (CNEOS). CNEOS meticulously monitors asteroids and comets that come close to Earth, providing crucial data to NASA's Planetary Defense Coordination Office.
Near-Earth objects like asteroids and comets have orbits that bring them close to Earth's path around the Sun, some of which can pose a potential impact risk. Most of these objects are asteroids, ranging in size from a few metres to tens of kilometres across. The majority of these asteroids orbit far enough away from Earth to not pose a threat, but a small fraction, known as potentially hazardous asteroids, require close monitoring.
2024 LZ2, while sizable, will pass by Earth at a safe distance of approximately 1.3 million kilometres. It's part of NASA's ongoing efforts to track and understand near-Earth objects, utilising data from observatories around the world, including contributions from amateur astronomers.
The asteroid's trajectory and characteristics, including its speed and size, are tracked using data from the Minor Planet Center and various NASA-funded observatories like 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 critical role in NASA's asteroid observation program.
As 2024 LZ2 passes by Earth, it serves as a reminder of the importance of planetary defence efforts and the ongoing work to monitor potentially hazardous asteroids. While this particular asteroid poses no threat, continued vigilance and scientific observation are crucial to understanding and preparing for any potential impact risks in the future.
