An airplane-sized asteroid is moving towards Earth today at an alarming speed.
NASA has raised a flag on an incoming celestial visitor – an asteroid the size of a commercial airplane hurtling towards Earth at an astounding speed of 18,828 kilometres per hour. Dubbed 2024 GK5, this space rock measures about 127 feet in diameter, making it a notable spectacle.
Scheduled to pass closest to Earth today, April 29, this asteroid belongs to a group known as Aten asteroids, which occasionally come close to our planet’s orbit. But don’t panic just yet – NASA assures us it’s not a cause for concern.
The agency has been meticulously tracking the asteroid’s trajectory, gathering data from various observatories like Pan-STARRS and the Catalina Sky Survey. Missions such as NASA’s NEOWISE and the upcoming NEO Surveyor also contribute valuable information. Additionally, planetary radar initiatives, like JPL’s Goldstone Solar System Radar Group, play a crucial role in tracking these celestial bodies.
While 2024 GK5 may sound like a threat, NASA confirms it will maintain a safe distance from Earth, coming within about 4.9 million kilometres. To put that in perspective, that’s more than 12 times the distance to the Moon, so there’s no need to worry about a collision.
It’s worth noting that not all asteroids are considered hazardous. In the case of 2024 GK5, NASA classifies it as a non-threatening object, so there’s no reason to lose sleep over its passing.
So, if you happen to have a telescope handy, you might catch a glimpse of this cosmic traveller as it zips by. While it’s a reminder of the vast and occasionally awe-inspiring wonders of our universe, rest assured, this particular visitor won’t be overstaying its welcome.
