Asteroid 2024 XN1 dubbed the “Christmas Eve asteroid,” is set to pass Earth at a staggering speed of 14,743 mph on December 24, NASA’s Asteroid Watch dashboard has confirmed. The asteroid which measures between 95 and 230 feet in diameter roughly the size of a small airplane will make its closest approach at 2:56 am GMT on Christmas Eve. Despite its massive potential destructive force of 12 million tonnes of TNT, scientists assure there is no risk of collision.
The asteroid will safely pass at a distance of approximately 4.48 million miles (7.21 million kilometers) from Earth—about 18 times the distance between the Earth and the Moon. Though classified as a “near miss” in astronomical terms, this space rock poses no danger to the planet.
Discovered on December 12 by NASA and the European Space Agency’s planetary defense systems, the asteroid’s trajectory was quickly analyzed and labeled a close approach due to its proximity of less than 4.65 million miles (7.5 million kilometers).
Asteroid 2024 XN1 is the largest of five asteroids expected to make close approaches to Earth in the coming days. NASA’s Asteroid Watch dashboard, which tracks near-Earth objects, provides detailed data about each asteroid’s size, speed, and distance from Earth. The tool serves as a vital resource for scientists and the public, ensuring transparency and awareness of space objects that pass near our planet.
The Christmas Eve flyby underscores the importance of monitoring near-Earth objects as part of planetary defense initiatives. While 2024 XN1 is not a threat, keeping a close eye on such space rocks helps scientists identify potential risks and prepare for future scenarios.
As the asteroid zooms past in the early hours of Christmas Eve, it offers a timely reminder of the need for vigilance and ongoing advancements in space observation technology.
