Asteroids leftover debris from our solar system’s birth, offer a unique glimpse into the early solar system. By studying their size, orbit, and composition, scientists can learn valuable information about our cosmic neighborhood. Recently, scientists monitored two space rocks that zipped by Earth, providing new insights and a few surprises.
NASA constantly tracks asteroids to avoid future collisions. Using tools like planetary radar, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in California monitors and images these space rocks. The planetary radar, part of the Deep Space Network, sends radio waves that bounce off asteroids, returning detailed images.
Asteroid 2011 UL21: A Surprise Companion
On June 27th, asteroid 2011 UL21 made its closest recorded approach to Earth, passing at a safe distance of 17 times the Earth-Moon distance (4.1 million miles or 6.6 million kilometers). This nearly mile-wide (1.5-kilometer-wide) asteroid was first discovered in 2011 and is classified as potentially hazardous due to a small chance of future impact. However, astronomers have determined it poses no imminent threat.
Interestingly, recent radar observations from the Goldstone Solar System Radar in California revealed that 2011 UL21 is not alone. It has a small moonlet orbiting it at a distance of about 1.9 miles (3 kilometers). Lance Benner, principal scientist at JPL, noted that about two-thirds of asteroids of this size are binary systems. Understanding these systems can provide key information about their formation.
Asteroid 2024 MK: A Close Shave
Another recent asteroid, 2024 MK, zoomed by Earth at a mere 184,000 miles (295,000 kilometers) just 13 days after detection. This close shave emphasizes the need for improved near-Earth asteroid tracking. The ATLAS telescope system in South Africa first spotted 2024 MK, which, although potentially hazardous, does not pose an immediate threat to Earth.
Radar observations revealed a fascinating 500-foot (150-meter) wide asteroid with a rough, elongated shape and surface features, including 30-foot (10-meter) boulders. Earth’s gravity slightly nudged the asteroid, shaving 24 days off its 3.3-year orbit around the sun, highlighting the importance of studying these near-Earth objects.
Future Preparedness and Exploration
NASA’s upcoming missions, like the Lucy mission to Trojan asteroids, aim to shed light on how common moonlets are in our solar system. The DART mission even tested deflecting an asteroid by crashing into its moonlet, Dimorphos. These efforts underscore the importance of preparedness and continuous monitoring of near-Earth objects to safeguard our planet.
Read Now:GOLD Mission Detects Unexpected Structures in Earth’s Ionosphere
