New Delhi, India

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A bus-sized asteroid made its closest approach to Earth on Monday (May 6) and another is set to fly past Earth at a close distance this week. 

The first asteroid which came near our planet was a  7-metre-long (22-feet) space rock. It was named 2024 JF and made its closest approach at 8:04 pm ET tonight (1204 GMT on Tuesday). 

This asteroid is being followed by another one which is 10 metres long (32 feet) and is named 2024 JR1. It is likely to make its closest approach on Tuesday (May 7).

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According to Asteroid Watch, which is a dashboard by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory of near-Earth asteroids and comets, the first space rock was nearly 295,000 miles (475,000 kilometres) away from our planet when it made its closest approach.

Asteroid Watch is known to track objects whose orbits bring them at a distance of 4.6 million miles (7.5 million kilometres) from Earth, nearly 20 times the distance to the moon.

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Asteroids to flyby closer than the Moon 

The asteroid 2024 JR1 will approach Earth at a closer distance, which will be 184,000 miles (296,000 kilometres). The asteroid was discovered just three days back.

While making its closest approach to Earth, the asteroid will be closer than the Moon, which is at a distance of 230,000 miles (370,000 kilometres).

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During its closest approach, the asteroid will be in the constellation Ursa Major, as per The Sky Live.

Two days after asteroid 2024 JR1's closest approach, another space rock called 2024 JD will approach Earth from around 172,741 miles (278,000 kilometres). This asteroid was discovered just a week ago. 

Hence, this asteroid will also come closer than the Moon, however, 2024 JD will pose no danger to Earth. 

(With inputs from agencies)