An asteroid roughly the size of two football fields is scheduled to make a close approach to Earth this month. The 720-foot-wide asteroid, named 2024 ON, will pass approximately 620,000 miles from our planet on September 15. While this distance may seem considerable, it is quite close in astronomical terms just 2.6 times the distance between Earth and the Moon. However, there is no need for concern as it poses no threat to our planet.
Close encounters with asteroids of this magnitude occur roughly once every decade, according to the Virtual Telescope Project. The asteroid’s approach offers a unique and exciting opportunity for stargazers and astronomy enthusiasts, particularly in the northern hemisphere, where it will be visible. The Virtual Telescope Project will provide a live feed of the asteroid’s flyby starting on September 15 at 2:30 p.m. ET. With clear skies, the asteroid may also be observable using telescopes or strong binoculars.
Beyond the spectacle, the flyby of asteroid 2024 ON presents an invaluable opportunity for astronomers to gather critical data. Observations of its composition, velocity, rotation period, and orbital path are crucial for refining predictive models of Near-Earth Objects (NEOs) and understanding the complex dynamics of our solar system.
Asteroids like 2024 ON are remnants from the formation of the solar system 4.6 billion years ago. They vary greatly in size, shape, and composition, depending on where and how they formed. While most asteroids are composed of different types of rocks, some contain clays or metals such as nickel and iron.
NASA continuously monitors NEOs and maintains a database of their trajectories. Asteroids larger than 150 meters (492 feet) in diameter and closer than 4.6 million miles (7.4 million kilometers) are classified as potentially hazardous asteroids (PHAs). In an effort to mitigate potential asteroid threats, NASA is developing asteroid deflection technologies. One such initiative is the Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission, designed to test the feasibility of altering an asteroid’s course using a kinetic impactor spacecraft.
The upcoming flyby of 2024 ON serves as a reminder of the importance of studying these celestial bodies and the ongoing efforts to protect Earth from potential asteroid impacts.
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