<p>A number of asteroids, each about the size of an airplane, are expected to make close approaches to Earth this week, NASA said in a statement earlier this week. Among the five asteroids, the largest is estimated to be 110 feet in diameter, while the closest will come within 447,000 miles of our planet.</p>

<h2><strong>What does it mean?</strong></h2>

<p>While it is common for large asteroids to pass by Earth at a safe distance, this week’s cluster is notable for the number of such encounters. Asteroid 2024 LU1, which is about 71 feet in diameter, made its closest approach on Monday (June 17), passing within 1,150,000 miles of Earth.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Gravitas | The impact of NASA asteroid deflection</strong></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-the-impact-of-nasa-asteroid-deflection-707437/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>The next close approach is scheduled for June 19, featuring the largest of the group, which will still be the farthest at a distance of 447,000 miles.</p>

<h2><strong>Which asteroids can be hazardous?</strong></h2>

<p>Asteroids are typically composed of rocky, dusty, and metallic materials. Most asteroids orbit within the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, but some follow paths that bring them closer to Earth. These near-Earth asteroids are part of a larger category known as near-Earth objects (NEOs), which also includes comets. NEOs are defined as celestial objects that come within 1.3 astronomical units of the Sun, and within 0.3 astronomical units of Earth’s orbit.&nbsp;</p>

<p>0.3 astronomical units is approximately 28 million miles.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/fastest-spinning-asteroid-recently-hit-earths-atmosphere-and-crashed-in-berlin-716624">Fastest-spinning asteroid recently hit Earth’s atmosphere and crashed in Berlin</a></strong></p>

<p>For an asteroid to be classified as a potentially hazardous asteroid (PHA), it must be at least 140 metres in diameter and come within 7.48 million kilometres of Earth. An asteroid of this size that enters Earth's atmosphere and does not completely burn up could cause significant damage, especially if it were to strike a populated area.</p>

<h2><strong>Difference between asteroids and meteoroids</strong>&nbsp;</h2>

<p>Asteroids are different from meteoroids. The former are smaller Sun-orbiting rocks or particles less than three feet in size. When a meteoroid enters Earth's atmosphere, it creates a light phenomenon known as a meteor. If any part of a meteoroid or asteroid survives the atmospheric entry and lands on Earth's surface, it is called a meteorite.</p>

<p>To monitor and prepare for potential asteroid threats, NASA’s Planetary Defense Coordination Office (PDCO) plays a crucial role. The PDCO is responsible for coordinating efforts and creating plans to protect Earth from the potential impacts of hazardous space objects.</p>


A number of asteroids, each about the size of an airplane, are expected to make close approaches to Earth this week, NASA said in a statement earlier this week. Among the five asteroids, the largest is estimated to be 110 feet in diameter, while the closest will come within 447,000 miles of our planet.

A number of asteroids, each about the size of an airplane, are expected to make close approaches to Earth this week, NASA said in a statement earlier this week. Among the five asteroids, the largest is estimated to be 110 feet in diameter, while the closest will come within 447,000 miles of our planet. What does it mean? While it is common for large asteroids to pass by Earth at a safe distance, this week’s cluster is notable for the number of such encounters. Asteroid 2024 LU1, which is about 71 feet in diameter, made its closest approach on Monday (June 17), passing within 1,150,000 miles of Earth. Also watch | Gravitas | The impact of NASA asteroid deflection × The next close approach is scheduled for June 19, featuring the largest of the group, which will still be the farthest at a distance of 447,000 miles. Which asteroids can be hazardous? Asteroids are typically composed of rocky, dusty, and metallic materials. Most asteroids orbit within the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, but some follow paths that bring them closer to Earth. These near-Earth asteroids are part of a larger category known as near-Earth objects (NEOs), which also includes comets. NEOs are defined as celestial objects that come within 1.3 astronomical units of the Sun, and within 0.3 astronomical units of Earth’s orbit. 0.3 astronomical units is approximately 28 million miles. Also read | Fastest-spinning asteroid recently hit Earth’s atmosphere and crashed in Berlin For an asteroid to be classified as a potentially hazardous asteroid (PHA), it must be at least 140 metres in diameter and come within 7.48 million kilometres of Earth. An asteroid of this size that enters Earth's atmosphere and does not completely burn up could cause significant damage, especially if it were to strike a populated area. Difference between asteroids and meteoroids Asteroids are different from meteoroids. The former are smaller Sun-orbiting rocks or particles less than three feet in size. When a meteoroid enters Earth's atmosphere, it creates a light phenomenon known as a meteor. If any part of a meteoroid or asteroid survives the atmospheric entry and lands on Earth's surface, it is called a meteorite. To monitor and prepare for potential asteroid threats, NASA’s Planetary Defense Coordination Office (PDCO) plays a crucial role. The PDCO is responsible for coordinating efforts and creating plans to protect Earth from the potential impacts of hazardous space objects.

Asteroid alert! Several plane-sized objects hurtling towards Earth this week

<p>A large asteroid whose orbit crosses that of Earth has been discovered by astronomers. The crossing of the orbits opens a tiny window for a catastrophic collision far in the future. The 1.5 kilometer- (0.9 mile-) wide asteroid has been named 2022 AP7. The discovery was made in an area that beats visibility due to the glare from the Sun. The findings were published in the scientific journal The Astronomical Journal.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Victor M. Blanco telescope in Chile, that was originally developed to study dark matter, found the asteroid along with two other near-Earth asteroids.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/asteroid-struck-by-nasa-probe-leaves-a-10000-km-trail-in-its-wake-522817">Asteroid struck by NASA spacecraft leaves a 10,000 km trail in its wake</a></p>

<p>"2022 AP7 crosses Earth’s orbit, which makes it a potentially hazardous asteroid, but it currently does not now or anytime in the future have a trajectory that will have it collide with the Earth," said lead author of the findings, astronomer Scott Sheppard of the Carnegie Institution for Science.</p>

<p>"It is the largest object that is potentially hazardous to Earth to be discovered in the last eight years," said NOIRLab, a US-funded research group that operates multiple observatories.</p>

<p>2022 AP7 takes five years to circle the Sun under its current orbit, which at its closest point to Earth remains several million kilometers away. This is why the risk is small, but if a collision happens, an asteroid of that size "would have a devastating impact on life as we know it," said Sheppard.&nbsp;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/nasas-dart-mission-the-worlds-first-planetary-defence-520044/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>The dust launched into the air would have a major cooling effect, provoking an "extinction event like hasn’t been seen on Earth in millions of years", he added.</p>

<p>Astronomers have discovered at least 30,000 asteroids near the Earth, and have named them "Near Earth Objects" (NEOs). None of them threaten Earth for the next 100 years. Sheppard says there are "likely 20 to 50 large NEOs left to find," and most of them are on orbits that put them in the Sun's glare.</p>

<p>In September, NASA had collided a spacecraft with an asteroid in a bid to change its trajectory. The test mission was a preparation for any such situation where an&nbsp;asteroid might threaten the Earth.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>


A large asteroid whose orbit crosses that of Earth has been discovered by astronomers. The crossing of the orbits opens a tiny window for a catastrophic collision far in the future.

A large asteroid whose orbit crosses that of Earth has been discovered by astronomers. The crossing of the orbits opens a tiny window for a catastrophic collision far in the future. The 1.5 kilometer- (0.9 mile-) wide asteroid has been named 2022 AP7. The discovery was made in an area that beats visibility due to the glare from the Sun. The findings were published in the scientific journal The Astronomical Journal. The Victor M. Blanco telescope in Chile, that was originally developed to study dark matter, found the asteroid along with two other near-Earth asteroids. Also Read | Asteroid struck by NASA spacecraft leaves a 10,000 km trail in its wake "2022 AP7 crosses Earth’s orbit, which makes it a potentially hazardous asteroid, but it currently does not now or anytime in the future have a trajectory that will have it collide with the Earth," said lead author of the findings, astronomer Scott Sheppard of the Carnegie Institution for Science. "It is the largest object that is potentially hazardous to Earth to be discovered in the last eight years," said NOIRLab, a US-funded research group that operates multiple observatories. 2022 AP7 takes five years to circle the Sun under its current orbit, which at its closest point to Earth remains several million kilometers away. This is why the risk is small, but if a collision happens, an asteroid of that size "would have a devastating impact on life as we know it," said Sheppard. × The dust launched into the air would have a major cooling effect, provoking an "extinction event like hasn’t been seen on Earth in millions of years", he added. Astronomers have discovered at least 30,000 asteroids near the Earth, and have named them "Near Earth Objects" (NEOs). None of them threaten Earth for the next 100 years. Sheppard says there are "likely 20 to 50 large NEOs left to find," and most of them are on orbits that put them in the Sun's glare. In September, NASA had collided a spacecraft with an asteroid in a bid to change its trajectory. The test mission was a preparation for any such situation where an asteroid might threaten the Earth. (With inputs from agencies)

Asteroid capable of having a 'devastating impact on life' on Earth discovered

asteroid-earth-orbit

Asteroid Earth Orbit, News on Asteroid Earth Orbit, stories on Asteroid Earth Orbit, articles on Asteroid Earth Orbit, Asteroid Earth Orbit stories at Wion, Asteroid Earth Orbit news, Asteroid Earth Orbit latest news

asteroid earth-orbit

Asteroid alert! Several plane-sized objects hurtling towards Earth this week

Asteroid capable of having a 'devastating impact on life' on Earth discovered