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On September 17, the giant asteroid 2024 ON, the size of a skyscraper, will pass by the Earth. This space traveler, moving at a speed of 31 km/h, will approach our planet at a distance of about 933 million kilometers, which is 1 times the average distance from the Earth to the Moon.
Asteroid 2024 ON was discovered relatively recently and has already managed to attract the attention of scientists around the world. Its dimensions are impressive: according to experts, the diameter of the celestial body is from 220 to 480 meters. This means that it can be comparable in size to famous skyscrapers, writes Live Science.
Should we be afraid of a collision?
Despite its huge size and high speed, the asteroid does not pose a direct threat to Earth. The distance at which it will approach our planet, although it is small in cosmic terms, is still enough to avoid a collision.
NASA constantly monitors the movement of thousands of asteroids that may come close to Earth. For this, the ATLAS system is used, consisting of four telescopes that scan the entire night sky. Thanks to this, scientists can detect potentially dangerous objects in advance and assess the risks of a collision.
Is a collision with Earth possible in the future?
According to NASA, there is no threat of a global catastrophe due to a collision with an asteroid in the next 100 years. However, scientists continue to explore outer space and develop technologies that will allow in the future to deflect the trajectory of an asteroid if such a threat arises.
How to observe the flight of an asteroid?
For those interested in astronomy, the virtual telescope project will provide an opportunity to observe the flight of asteroid 2024 ON live on the air. The broadcast will begin on September 15 at 19:30 UTC.
