290-ft Apollo asteroid is moving towards Earth at a speed of 28,156 km/hr: NASA
Apollo asteroids are a group of near-Earth asteroids named after 1862 Apollo, discovered by German astronomer Karl Reinmuth in the 1930s.
The NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) has identified an asteroid that is speeding towards Earth at a speed of more than 28,000 km/h. The Apollo asteroid, (2024 LY2), measuring 88 meters (290 feet) in size, is scheduled to pass by Earth on July 23, 2024, at 1:22 PM IST (07:52 UTC).
Will flyby Earth
However, asteroid 2024 LY2 does not pose any threat to our planet as its path is nearly 4.5 million kilometers from Earth when it makes a flyby. Still, NASA is tracking the path of the 2024 LY2 asteroid due to its significant size.
Also read: Asteroid the size of Statue of Liberty to fly by Earth at 65,215 kmph speed
NASA
Why NASA is tracking it
Tracking of this asteroid will prevent the potential risk to Earth. Due to the size of the asteroid, scientists have warned that a collision with Earth would cause huge damage due to its composition. Using telescopes and radar systems, the asteroid's trajectory is tracked.
Apollo asteroids
NASA said that asteroid 2024 LY2 belongs to the Apollo asteroid group. Apollo asteroids are a group of near-Earth asteroids named after 1862 Apollo, discovered by German astronomer Karl Reinmuth in the 1930s. They are Earth-crossing asteroids that have an orbital semi-major axis greater than that of the Earth but perihelion distances less than the Earth's aphelion distance.
Space Weather
Tracking of asteroids
NASA and other space agencies are constantly working on various asteroid monitoring and deflection systems. NASA¡¯s Center for Near-Earth Object Studies is a monitoring system that continuously works to analyze threats from potentially hazardous asteroids. According to it, there are no potential threats so far for 100 or more years from asteroids.
Also read: NASA Finally Opens Canister Filled With 4.6-Billion-Year-Old Asteroid Dust
Along with that, it has radar systems like JPL¡¯s Goldstone Solar System Radar Group to assess impact risks. NASA also collaborates with amateur astronomers to collect data.
Space Weather
Days after the flyby of 2024 LY2, another asteroid, 2024 NH, will pass closer to our planet. 2024 NH is much smaller at 92 feet and will fly by Earth at a speed of 5,030,000 km per hour.
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