Four asteroids will make their closest approaches to Earth on Thursday (Oct 24) one after the other within a span of 12 hours. Two of these asteroids were discovered just this month, one of them only about a week back. Of the "potentially hazardous" space rocks, one is as tall as a skyscraper. Do they pose any threat to Earth?

The first asteroid to fly past the planet will be 2015 HM1, the smallest of the four space rocks. It measures around 100 feet across and will be at its nearest point to Earth at around 0:36 am ET, or 10:06 am IST. As per NASA's Asteroid Watch dashboard, it will be 5.5 million kilometres from us.

The second asteroid is 2024 TP17 which is roughly 170-foot wide. It will make its closest approach at around 4:20 am ET, or 1:50 pm IST and will be at a distance of 4.7 million km from our planet.

The final two asteroids — 2002 NV16 and 2024 TR6 — will make their closest approaches within just four minutes of each other.

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The other two asteroids will zoom past Earth within just four minutes of each other. Space rock 2002 NV16 and 2024 TR6 will take back-to-back trips past our planet.&nbsp;

The 2002 NV16 asteroid is the largest of the four and measures 580 feet across. It will reach a minimum distance of 4.5 million km at around 11:47 a.m. ET, or 9:17 pm IST. The fourth asteroid, the 150-foot-wide 2024 TR6, will follow soon after. It will come within 5.6 million km of Earth at 11:51 am ET, or 9:21 pm IST.&nbsp;

Asteroids 2024 TR6 and 2024 TP17 were discovered on Oct 7 and Oct 12, respectively.

<h2>Two of the asteroids will return</h2>

Astronomers discover almost 2,000 near-Earth objects every year, most of them just as they are about to come close to the planet. Asteroids classified as "potentially hazardous" are those whose orbits bring them within 48 million km of Earth.&nbsp;

NASA regularly checks for asteroids that might pose a threat to Earth. Most of these objects aren't big enough or don't come close enough to cause damage. However, 2002 NV16 is quite massive and if it were on a trajectory to impact Earth, it could wipe out a large city besides affecting the entire planet.

Notably, 2024 TR6 will return on Aug 5, 2039, and fly past Earth at a much closer distance of 1.9 million km. Asteroids 2024 TP17 will also make a comeback on Oct 25, 2040, and make a close approach at a minimum distance of 2.1 million km. 
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Four asteroids will make their closest approaches to Earth on Thursday (Oct 24) one after the other within a span of 12 hours. Two of these asteroids were discovered just this month, one of them only about a week back.

Four asteroids will make their closest approaches to Earth on Thursday (Oct 24) one after the other within a span of 12 hours. Two of these asteroids were discovered just this month, one of them only about a week back. Of the "potentially hazardous" space rocks, one is as tall as a skyscraper. Do they pose any threat to Earth? The first asteroid to fly past the planet will be 2015 HM1, the smallest of the four space rocks. It measures around 100 feet across and will be at its nearest point to Earth at around 0:36 am ET, or 10:06 am IST. As per NASA's Asteroid Watch dashboard, it will be 5.5 million kilometres from us. The second asteroid is 2024 TP17 which is roughly 170-foot wide. It will make its closest approach at around 4:20 am ET, or 1:50 pm IST and will be at a distance of 4.7 million km from our planet. The final two asteroids — 2002 NV16 and 2024 TR6 — will make their closest approaches within just four minutes of each other. Also Read: The 2,000-kilometre wide crater basin on the moon is way older The other two asteroids will zoom past Earth within just four minutes of each other. Space rock 2002 NV16 and 2024 TR6 will take back-to-back trips past our planet. The 2002 NV16 asteroid is the largest of the four and measures 580 feet across. It will reach a minimum distance of 4.5 million km at around 11:47 a.m. ET, or 9:17 pm IST. The fourth asteroid, the 150-foot-wide 2024 TR6, will follow soon after. It will come within 5.6 million km of Earth at 11:51 am ET, or 9:21 pm IST. Asteroids 2024 TR6 and 2024 TP17 were discovered on Oct 7 and Oct 12, respectively. Two of the asteroids will return Astronomers discover almost 2,000 near-Earth objects every year, most of them just as they are about to come close to the planet. Asteroids classified as "potentially hazardous" are those whose orbits bring them within 48 million km of Earth. NASA regularly checks for asteroids that might pose a threat to Earth. Most of these objects aren't big enough or don't come close enough to cause damage. However, 2002 NV16 is quite massive and if it were on a trajectory to impact Earth, it could wipe out a large city besides affecting the entire planet. Notably, 2024 TR6 will return on Aug 5, 2039, and fly past Earth at a much closer distance of 1.9 million km. Asteroids 2024 TP17 will also make a comeback on Oct 25, 2040, and make a close approach at a minimum distance of 2.1 million km.

Four asteroids to approach Earth in a span of 12 hours today. Two of them will return

An asteroid the size of a skyscraper is coming close to Earth and will zoom past us on Sep 17, NASA said. The asteroid, named 2024 ON, is between 721 and 1,575 feet (220 to 480 meters) in diameter and is travelling at a speed of 19,842 mph (31933 km/h), Live Science reported.&nbsp;This is around 26 times the speed of sound.

It is coming dangerously close to us and will be about 0.62 million miles (1 million kilometres) away at its closest point to Earth. This is around &nbsp;2.6 times the average distance between Earth and the moon.&nbsp;

While it might seem like it's really far away, it really is not considering cosmic standards. However, it will not hit us and won't threaten the safety of human beings.&nbsp;

<h2>NASA standards for asteroid safety</h2>

NASA has a set standard for classifying near-Earth objects and those are considered "potentially hazardous". Any space object that comes within 120 million miles (193 million km) of Earth is classified as a "near-Earth object". To be considered a danger, any large object must come within 4.65 million miles (7.5 million km) of our planet.

The space agency regularly monitors asteroids and other celestial bodies to estimate whether any of them is on a collision course with Earth. &nbsp;At least 28,000 asteroids are on its watch, with their locations and orbits being tracked using the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS), an array of four telescopes. The telescopes scan the entire night sky every 24 hours.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/asteroid-apophis-can-collide-with-earth-but-only-if-this-happens-the-odds-of-755711">'God of chaos' asteroid can hit Earth, but only if THIS happens. 'The odds of...'</a>

As per data, no asteroid threatens the planet for the next 100 years. However, over a period of time, as the asteroids travel through space, they absorb and emit enough momentum-carrying light which can change their orbits, albeit just slightly.&nbsp;

Some of them even pay a surprise visit and are detected just hours before they reach us. One such asteroid hit Earth over the Philippines a few days back. The European Space Agency (ESA) said that the asteroid was 3-foot (1-metre) long and was discovered hours before it collided. It was only the ninth to have been spotted just prior to impact.&nbsp;

People saw it burn into a fireball and captured it on camera. It did not cause any destruction.

<h2>"God of Chaos" asteroid Apophis</h2>

Apophis is one asteroid that has been on the radar for a few years now. It has been classified as having a high chance of hitting Earth in 2029, but astronomers say it will safely pass by.&nbsp;

However, doubts have once again risen after some scientists said that if it collides with another object in space, its orbit might change, putting it on a collision course with Earth. But we won't know if this has happened for another three years.

An asteroid the size of a skyscraper is coming close to Earth and will zoom past us on Sep 17, NASA said. The asteroid, named 2024 ON, is between 721 and 1,575 feet (220 to 480 meters) in diameter and is travelling at a speed of 19,842 mph (31933 km/h), Live Science reported.

An asteroid the size of a skyscraper is coming close to Earth and will zoom past us on Sep 17, NASA said. The asteroid, named 2024 ON, is between 721 and 1,575 feet (220 to 480 meters) in diameter and is travelling at a speed of 19,842 mph (31933 km/h), Live Science reported. This is around 26 times the speed of sound. It is coming dangerously close to us and will be about 0.62 million miles (1 million kilometres) away at its closest point to Earth. This is around 2.6 times the average distance between Earth and the moon. While it might seem like it's really far away, it really is not considering cosmic standards. However, it will not hit us and won't threaten the safety of human beings. NASA standards for asteroid safety NASA has a set standard for classifying near-Earth objects and those are considered "potentially hazardous". Any space object that comes within 120 million miles (193 million km) of Earth is classified as a "near-Earth object". To be considered a danger, any large object must come within 4.65 million miles (7.5 million km) of our planet. The space agency regularly monitors asteroids and other celestial bodies to estimate whether any of them is on a collision course with Earth. At least 28,000 asteroids are on its watch, with their locations and orbits being tracked using the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS), an array of four telescopes. The telescopes scan the entire night sky every 24 hours. Also Read: 'God of chaos' asteroid can hit Earth, but only if THIS happens. 'The odds of...' As per data, no asteroid threatens the planet for the next 100 years. However, over a period of time, as the asteroids travel through space, they absorb and emit enough momentum-carrying light which can change their orbits, albeit just slightly. Some of them even pay a surprise visit and are detected just hours before they reach us. One such asteroid hit Earth over the Philippines a few days back. The European Space Agency (ESA) said that the asteroid was 3-foot (1-metre) long and was discovered hours before it collided. It was only the ninth to have been spotted just prior to impact. People saw it burn into a fireball and captured it on camera. It did not cause any destruction. "God of Chaos" asteroid Apophis Apophis is one asteroid that has been on the radar for a few years now. It has been classified as having a high chance of hitting Earth in 2029, but astronomers say it will safely pass by. However, doubts have once again risen after some scientists said that if it collides with another object in space, its orbit might change, putting it on a collision course with Earth. But we won't know if this has happened for another three years.

Asteroid nearly 1,500 feet in size moving towards Earth at 26 times the speed of sound

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Four asteroids to approach Earth in a span of 12 hours today. Two of them will return

Asteroid nearly 1,500 feet in size moving towards Earth at 26 times the speed of sound