NASA has revealed that an asteroid named 363305 (2002 NV16) is expected to fly past Earth on October 24 at 9:17 PM IST. This near-Earth object (NEO) is about 175 meters wide, which is roughly the size of a large building. The asteroid is travelling at a significant speed of 17,542 kmph.
Safe Distance from Earth
The asteroid will pass Earth at a distance of 4.52 million kilometres, which is more than 11 times the distance between Earth and the Moon (384,400 kilometres). Although classified as a potentially hazardous asteroid (PHA) due to its size and proximity, NASA assures there is no risk of collision during this flyby.
NASA’s Planetary Defense Program
Monitoring NEOs like this one is part of NASA’s planetary defense program, which focuses on tracking near-Earth asteroids and comets. This program plays a crucial role in cataloguing these objects and assessing any potential risks they may pose to Earth.
Recent Flyby of Asteroid 2024 TY21
Just a few days earlier, on October 19, another asteroid named 2024 TY21 flew past Earth. It passed at a safe distance of approximately 1.35 million kilometres. The asteroid, around 40 feet in diameter, which is similar in size to a bus, posed no threat to the planet.
Understanding Near-Earth Objects (NEOs)
NEOs are objects like asteroids or comets that can come close to the Sun, within 195 million kilometres, bringing them near Earth’s orbit. Most NEOs are asteroids, ranging in size from a few metres to about 40 kilometres. Some of these, classified as PHAs, are larger than 140 metres and are given special attention due to their potential threat if they approach Earth’s orbit.
NASA’s Efforts in Asteroid Deflection
NASA is working on missions aimed at deflecting potentially dangerous asteroids. Two major projects include:
DART (Double Asteroid Redirection Test): This mission aims to demonstrate asteroid deflection by crashing a spacecraft into an asteroid, testing a method to change its course.
NEO Surveyor: A future space telescope is being developed to discover and track potentially hazardous asteroids, focusing on identifying those up to 30 million miles away from Earth.
These initiatives are part of NASA’s ongoing efforts to protect Earth from any possible future asteroid threats.