A "potentially hazardous" asteroid skimmed past Earth at 12:27 am ET on December 4 (10:57 am IST). The huge space rock, about the size of a football stadium, reached a minimum distance of 2.2 million kilometres from Earth, travelling at a speed of 44,300 kilometres per hour. This was the closest it had ever come to our planet.&nbsp;The encounter came a day after an asteroid entered Earth's atmosphere over Siberia.

The European Space Agency (ESA) said that people interested in catching a glimpse of the asteroid can see it live via the Virtual Telescope Project (VTP).&nbsp;

Asteroid 2020 XR came eerily close to Earth but astronomers measured its trajectory and said that it wouldn't pose any threat to Earth. But it is extremely huge and measures approximately 1,200 feet in diameter, big enough to devastate a small city.

The space rock is classified as a near-Earth object (NEO) and has paid us a visit in the past as well. Its last trip to Earth was in 1977, long before it was discovered by scientists. However, at the time, according to NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), it was 16 million km away from Earth.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/asteroid-in-siberia-fourth-imminent-impactor-of-2024-strikes-over-yakutia-781292">Asteroid in Siberia: Fourth imminent impactor of 2024 strikes over Yakutia</a>

ESA said in a statement that when asteroid 2020 XR was discovered, scientists thought that it would impact Earth in 2028. "When astronomers first discovered 2020 XR, they thought it had a small chance of impacting Earth in 2028," Juan Luis Cano, coordinator of the ESA's Near-Earth Object Coordination Center, said.

However, they carried out more calculations and looked at its history, after which they concluded that it would not harm the planet in any way. In fact, it would be even farther from us than its last trip. Asteroid 2020 XR will be at a minimum distance of 18.2 million km when it flies by in 2028.&nbsp;

In the year 2196, which is 172 years later, it would once again be extremely close to Earth.&nbsp;

<h2>Asteroid over Siberia</h2>

On December 3, Earth greeted its fourth imminent impactor of the year 2024. The asteroid hit the planet over Siberia hours after being discovered. The small space rock measured around 1.6 to 4 feet, about the size of a small bicycle tyre. It was initially named C0WEPC5 and was later officially designated 2024 XA1.

NASA regularly keeps an eye on incoming asteroids and ones that might pose a threat to Earth. Any NEOs that are observed to come within 7,500,000 km of Earth and are larger than 500 feet are considered to be "potentially hazardous."&nbsp;

A "potentially hazardous" asteroid skimmed past Earth at 12:27 am ET on December 4 (10:57 am IST). The huge space rock, about the size of a football stadium, reached a minimum distance of 2.

A "potentially hazardous" asteroid skimmed past Earth at 12:27 am ET on December 4 (10:57 am IST). The huge space rock, about the size of a football stadium, reached a minimum distance of 2.2 million kilometres from Earth, travelling at a speed of 44,300 kilometres per hour. This was the closest it had ever come to our planet. The encounter came a day after an asteroid entered Earth's atmosphere over Siberia. The European Space Agency (ESA) said that people interested in catching a glimpse of the asteroid can see it live via the Virtual Telescope Project (VTP). Asteroid 2020 XR came eerily close to Earth but astronomers measured its trajectory and said that it wouldn't pose any threat to Earth. But it is extremely huge and measures approximately 1,200 feet in diameter, big enough to devastate a small city. The space rock is classified as a near-Earth object (NEO) and has paid us a visit in the past as well. Its last trip to Earth was in 1977, long before it was discovered by scientists. However, at the time, according to NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), it was 16 million km away from Earth. Also Read: Asteroid in Siberia: Fourth imminent impactor of 2024 strikes over Yakutia ESA said in a statement that when asteroid 2020 XR was discovered, scientists thought that it would impact Earth in 2028. "When astronomers first discovered 2020 XR, they thought it had a small chance of impacting Earth in 2028," Juan Luis Cano, coordinator of the ESA's Near-Earth Object Coordination Center, said. However, they carried out more calculations and looked at its history, after which they concluded that it would not harm the planet in any way. In fact, it would be even farther from us than its last trip. Asteroid 2020 XR will be at a minimum distance of 18.2 million km when it flies by in 2028. In the year 2196, which is 172 years later, it would once again be extremely close to Earth. Asteroid over Siberia On December 3, Earth greeted its fourth imminent impactor of the year 2024. The asteroid hit the planet over Siberia hours after being discovered. The small space rock measured around 1.6 to 4 feet, about the size of a small bicycle tyre. It was initially named C0WEPC5 and was later officially designated 2024 XA1. NASA regularly keeps an eye on incoming asteroids and ones that might pose a threat to Earth. Any NEOs that are observed to come within 7,500,000 km of Earth and are larger than 500 feet are considered to be "potentially hazardous."

Asteroid 2020 XR: 1,200ft space rock skims past Earth after 47 years

Astronomers are gearing up to study an asteroid that will revisit Earth in 2025. It is about 33 feet wide and will come quite close to the planet. However, it will not pose any threat to us but is of special interest to scientists watching out for asteroids. In fact, this is the same asteroid that acted as Earth's mini-moon from Sep 29 to Nov 25 this year.

The near-Earth asteroid has been named 2024 PT5 and was first observed on Aug 7, 2024. Sutherland, the South Africa telescope of the University of Hawaii’s Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS), spotted it.&nbsp;

Asteroids routinely fly by Earth without causing any damage, and most of them aren't looked at keenly by astronomers. However, 2024 PT5 is an exception. The asteroid will pass us by, but after its close approach, it will continue to linger around for a while. It will be at a distance of about nine times that of where the Moon is from Earth.

This is because 2024 PT5 has a similar motion to Earth’s around the Sun, which will keep it near us for a few months. Its prospect of a prolonged stay has fascinated scientists who are planning on studying it when it is at its closest point to our planet in January 2025.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/when-will-earth-get-its-next-mini-moon-a-1981-and-2022-visitor-returns-in-778199">When will Earth get its next mini-moon? A 1981 and 2022 visitor returns in...</a>

This distance will be about five times as far from Earth as the Moon. &nbsp;

The Goldstone Solar System Radar, near Barstow in California, which is a part of NASA’s Deep Space Network, would track the space rock.&nbsp;

Scientists suspect that asteroid 2024 PT5 is actually a part of the Moon. NASA’s Center for Near Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) thinks that it got detached from the lunar surface because of an asteroid impact years ago.&nbsp;

When the asteroid was discovered, there was a possibility that it was likely a man-made object since they also have a similar motion. However, upon investigation, it was found to be a naturally occurring space body.&nbsp;

<h2>Can it become a mini-moon?</h2>

The asteroid might stay around for some time, but it would never come close enough to get caught in Earth's gravity. It was our mini-moon for about two months this year, but the same is not expected to happen again.

Astronomers are gearing up to study an asteroid that will revisit Earth in 2025. It is about 33 feet wide and will come quite close to the planet. However, it will not pose any threat to us but is of special interest to scientists watching out for asteroids.

Astronomers are gearing up to study an asteroid that will revisit Earth in 2025. It is about 33 feet wide and will come quite close to the planet. However, it will not pose any threat to us but is of special interest to scientists watching out for asteroids. In fact, this is the same asteroid that acted as Earth's mini-moon from Sep 29 to Nov 25 this year. The near-Earth asteroid has been named 2024 PT5 and was first observed on Aug 7, 2024. Sutherland, the South Africa telescope of the University of Hawaii’s Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS), spotted it. Asteroids routinely fly by Earth without causing any damage, and most of them aren't looked at keenly by astronomers. However, 2024 PT5 is an exception. The asteroid will pass us by, but after its close approach, it will continue to linger around for a while. It will be at a distance of about nine times that of where the Moon is from Earth. This is because 2024 PT5 has a similar motion to Earth’s around the Sun, which will keep it near us for a few months. Its prospect of a prolonged stay has fascinated scientists who are planning on studying it when it is at its closest point to our planet in January 2025. Also Read: When will Earth get its next mini-moon? A 1981 and 2022 visitor returns in... This distance will be about five times as far from Earth as the Moon. The Goldstone Solar System Radar, near Barstow in California, which is a part of NASA’s Deep Space Network, would track the space rock. Scientists suspect that asteroid 2024 PT5 is actually a part of the Moon. NASA’s Center for Near Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) thinks that it got detached from the lunar surface because of an asteroid impact years ago. When the asteroid was discovered, there was a possibility that it was likely a man-made object since they also have a similar motion. However, upon investigation, it was found to be a naturally occurring space body. Can it become a mini-moon? The asteroid might stay around for some time, but it would never come close enough to get caught in Earth's gravity. It was our mini-moon for about two months this year, but the same is not expected to happen again.

Was 'mini-moon' asteroid once part of our Moon? NASA will try to find out when it returns

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Asteroid 2020 XR: 1,200ft space rock skims past Earth after 47 years

Was 'mini-moon' asteroid once part of our Moon? NASA will try to find out when it returns