But are they potentially hazardous?
NASA reveals approximate asteroid diameter, relative size and distance from Earth.
According to the data collected by NASA, the 2024 ED6 asteroid will get close to 1.3 million miles to Earth.
These asteroids have orbits that cross the Earth's orbit, making them potentially hazardous objects.
Some asteroids, known as near-Earth asteroids (NEAs), have orbits that bring them close to Earth.
NASA alerted about two massive airplane-sized asteroids.
You may be busy searching for the latest updates and time of the upcoming Total Solar Eclipse on April 8, but NASA is also keeping a watch on two airplane-size asteroid s that are hurtling towards Earth for a close flyby today. These asteroids are raising concerns due to their size. But are they potentially hazardous? NASA reveals approximate asteroid diameter, relative size and distance from Earth.
According to the data collected by NASA, the 2024 ED6 asteroid will get close to 1.3 million miles to Earth. It is a 160-foot-wide space rock which is estimated to be moving at a speed of 24131 km per hour. It is an Apollo asteroid, which is a group of near-Earth asteroids (NEAs) named after the first asteroid of this group to be discovered, 1862 Apollo. These asteroids have orbits that cross the Earth's orbit, making them potentially hazardous objects.
Another, Asteroid 2005 FG is a plane-size asteroid with a size of 180-foot. NASA says that it will be 4.38 million miles away from Earth. NASA's CNEOS data revealed that it is moving at a speed of 19958 km per hour. It must be noted that the average distance between Earth and the moon is about 239,000 miles (385,000 kilometres).
But are they potentially hazardous? Thankfully not! The US Space Agency says that any asteroid which comes within 4.6 million miles of Earth and is about 150 meters or larger in size, will be categorised as a potentially hazardous asteroid. Due to their size, these two plane-sized asteroids are not a potential threat. However, a close watch on these mighty space rocks is crucial.
Asteroid Facts What are asteroids? Asteroids are rocky objects that orbit the Sun, primarily found in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. They vary in size and composition, ranging from small boulders to large, irregularly shaped bodies. Some asteroids, known as near-Earth asteroids (NEAs), have orbits that bring them close to Earth.
Does asteroid hit the Earth? Yes, asteroids sometimes hit Earth, but how often it happens depends on their size. Small ones, called meteoroids, often burn up in the atmosphere before reaching the ground, creating shooting stars or meteors. Bigger asteroids might make it through and hit the surface, though most of these are small enough to burn up too. But larger impacts can cause serious damage. That's why NASA watches out for these potentially dangerous space rocks.
