A near-Earth celestial visitor, Asteroid 2024 AW is anticipated to be moving very close towards the Earth. Read further and know everything that NASA has suggested about this asteroid.
NASA Spots Aircraft-Sized Asteroid Cruising Towards the Earth at 30606 kmph
Aten asteroids are a group of near-Earth objects (NEOs) that share one intriguing characteristic: their orbits bring them closer to the Sun than Earth’s orbit and even cross Earth’s path. Named after the Egyptian sun god Aten, these celestial wanderers have captured the imagination of astronomers and the public alike, sparking curiosity about their origins, potential dangers, and even the possibility of resource extraction.
The Aten family is more than just a collection of sun-kissed rocks. Their compositions also vary, with some being stony, while others contain precious metals like platinum and gold. While most Aten asteroids pose no immediate threat to Earth, their close proximity raises concerns about potential impacts in the future. However, collisions with these celestial bodies could have devastating consequences, triggering tsunamis, causing widespread destruction, and even leading to mass extinctions.
Thankfully, astronomers are diligently tracking Aten asteroids, constantly refining their understanding of their trajectories and identifying any potential risks. NASA’s CNEOs data has revealed that an Aten asteroid, Asteroid 2024 AW is nearing the Earth. Is the Asteroid 2024 AW packed with hazardous threats to our planet? Look out ahead at what NASA has revealed.
The asteroid 2024 AW is an 80-foot aircraft-sized near-Earth object that belongs to the Aten group. It makes one orbit around the Sun in 286 days. The aphelion (farthest point from the Sun) of the asteroid 2024 AW orbits is 162 million kilometers, and the perihelion (nearest point to the Sun) is 92 million kilometres. The asteroid will make its closest approach to Earth tomorrow, January 07, 2024 passing at a close distance of 2.66 million miles. It will be travelling at a furious speed of 30606 kilometers per hour.
According to the-sky.org, the asteroid 2024 AW will pass past Earth on January 07 at 19:06 at a distance of 4.28 million kilometers at a speed of 9 kilometers per second. The next close approach of asteroid 2024 AW to our planet will happen on January 09, 2053. On that day, its distance to Earth will be 11.24 million kilometers. While 2024 AW won’t be visible to the naked eye, amateur astronomers with telescopes might be able to catch a glimpse of it. Studying asteroids like 2024 AW helps us understand the early formation of our solar system and can also provide valuable information for future space exploration missions.
Does Asteroid 2024 AW pose any threat?
To be considered a potentially hazardous asteroid (PHA), an asteroid must have its closest approach towards the Earth within 4.6 million miles (7.5 million kilometers or 19.5 times the distance to the moon) and larger than 150 meters. Asteroid 2024 AW is not large enough to pose a threat to Earth, even if it were to hit us due to its close approach.
However, professional astronomers will continue monitoring its trajectory and learn more about these celestial objects to better understand our solar system and potential future risks. They would be using the asteroid’s close approach as an opportunity to study it in more detail.
Shambhu Kumar is a science communicator, making complex scientific topics accessible to all. His articles explore breakthroughs in various scientific disciplines, from space exploration to cutting-edge research.
