Asteroid the Size of a Bus to Safely Pass Earth Today, Experts Reassure
An asteroid the size of a bus is set to make a close pass by Earth today, but experts are assuring the public that there is no need to panic. The asteroid, named 2024 DW, is expected to come within 140,000 miles of our planet, even closer than the moon. With an estimated diameter of 42 feet, it is longer than a London bus and about half the size of a blue whale. Traveling at a speed of over 40,000 miles per hour, roughly 50 times the speed of sound, 2024 DW will be a sight to behold.
Discovered this year by astronomers working on the Mount Lemmon Survey in Tucson, Arizona, asteroid 2024 DW has been listed by NASA as one of the upcoming close approaches on its online tracker. However, Dr. Minjae Kim, a space expert at the University of Warwick’s astronomy department, reassures us that this particular asteroid does not pose a real danger. “While the likelihood of a direct hit on land is reduced due to Earth’s vast oceans, the potential impact of an asteroid remains a serious concern,” he adds.
The moon’s elliptical orbit means that its distance from Earth gradually changes. Currently, the moon is approximately 249,768 miles away from Earth. This means that asteroid 2024 DW will reach just over half the distance between Earth and the moon today. NASA reports that the asteroid made its closest approach at 04:37 GMT and is now heading back out along its orbit.
Due to its relative proximity to Earth, asteroid 2024 DW is classified as a near-Earth object (NEO) and is being closely monitored by the space agency. NEOs are comets and asteroids that have been nudged by nearby planets’ gravitational attraction into orbits that bring them close to Earth. Comets, composed mostly of water ice with embedded dust particles, formed in the cold outer planetary system, while most rocky asteroids formed in the warmer inner solar system between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter.
Although 2024 DW is not considered potentially hazardous, its proximity is still a cause for concern. A 2017 study reveals that only asteroids with a diameter of at least 18 meters (nearly 60 feet) are potentially lethal if they are on a collision course with Earth. The largest known asteroid in the Solar System, Ceres, is 580 miles in diameter, making it big enough for humans to live on. Fortunately, the chances of Ceres colliding with Earth are low since its orbit is further out, between Mars and Jupiter, and does not intersect with Earth’s.
However, recent research suggests that certain types of space rocks, such as “rubble pile” asteroids like Itokawa, could prove difficult or impossible to deflect. These asteroids are made up of loose boulders and rocks that have clumped together under the influence of gravity, leaving much of them empty space. In the event of a collision, these asteroids would absorb the impact energy and continue on their trajectory.
While the possibility of an asteroid threat remains a concern, Dr. Kim assures the public that if a significant asteroid were on a collision course with Earth, NASA’s Planetary Defense would provide timely information and guidance. The organization would either notify the public of a close encounter or a potential impact.
In conclusion, although asteroid 2024 DW will pass close to Earth today, experts emphasize that there is no need for alarm. While the potential impact of an asteroid remains a serious concern, this particular asteroid does not pose a real danger. As our understanding of these celestial objects continues to grow, scientists and researchers are working diligently to develop strategies to mitigate any potential threats they may pose.
