A celestial visitor, Asteroid 2024 AV4 is expected to travel past the Earth today at a blazing speed. Read further and know everything that NASA has suggested about this asteroid.
Asteroid 2024 AV4 to fly past the Earth today at a blazing speed of 55667 kilometres per hour
Apollo asteroids are a fascinating group of objects that are helping us to learn more about the early history of our solar system and the potential hazards posed by NEAs. They are thought to originate in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter and are ejected into their present orbits through gravitational interactions with Jupiter. Their expected lifetimes are relatively short due to their potential to collide with the inner planets. Apollo asteroids are a potential threat to Earth, as they could collide with our planet and cause significant damage. However, the probability of a large Apollo asteroid impacting Earth is very low. In fact, no large asteroid impacts have been observed in recorded history.
The study of Apollo asteroids is important for understanding the history of the Solar System and for assessing the potential threat of asteroid impacts on Earth. NASA and other space agencies have ongoing programs to track and monitor near-Earth objects, including Apollo asteroids. An Apollo group asteroid, Asteroid 2024 AV4 is moving towards the Earth today. Should you be worried about the asteroid and its threat to the Earthling? Have a look here.
Asteroid 2024 AV4 Details
This 94-foot huge aeroplane-sized near-Earth object belongs to the Apollo group. It makes one orbit around the Sun in 854 days. The aphelion (farthest point from the Sun) of the asteroid 2024 AV4 orbits is 404 million kilometers, and the perihelion (nearest point to the Sun) is 124 million kilometres. The asteroid is travelling at a furious speed of 55667 kilometres per hour, making its closest approach towards the Earth today, January 17, 2024 at a distance of 2.06 million miles.
According to the-sky.org, the asteroid 2024 AV4 will fly past the Earth today at 18:05 PM in the evening at a distance of 3.32 million kilometers at a speed of 15 kilometers per second. The next close approach of asteroid 2024 AV4 to our planet will happen on January 20, 2152. On that day, its distance to Earth will be 2.79 million kilometers
Is the Asteroid 2024 AV4 dangerous?
No, Asteroid 2024 AV4 is not considered a potentially hazardous asteroid (PHA) due to its relatively small size. While it does share some characteristics with PHAs, like its Apollo-type orbit that crosses Earth’s path, it currently poses no threat to our planet. However, it is still an interesting object for astronomers to study, and it helps us to learn more about the population of asteroids in our solar system. Studying these near-Earth objects is crucial for developing asteroid defence strategies and protecting our planet from future potential threats.
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.
