NASA has issued an alert about asteroid 2024 VZ2, a massive space rock approximately 68 feet wide, which is as big as a large aeroplane. This asteroid will make a close approach to Earth today, November 17, 2024, at 6:58 am IST. It will travel at an unbelievable speed of 36,743 km/h. In fact, it will pass barely at a distance of 1,270,000 kilometres, a proximity that has raised eyebrows in the scientific community.
What Do We Know About Asteroid 2024 VZ2?
Asteroid 2024 VZ2 belongs to the category of Near-Earth Objects (NEOs). These celestial bodies orbit close to Earth and occasionally make approaches that warrant careful observation. Measuring 68 feet in diameter, this asteroid is not large enough to be categorised as “potentially hazardous,” a classification reserved for objects over 492 feet in size passing within 7.5 million kilometres of Earth.
Is There Any Danger From 2024 VZ2?
NASA says that although 2024 VZ2 is passing by the earth very close but it is far from threatening the Earth. Most such asteroids would disintegrate while entering the atmosphere of the Earth and would cause really negligible or no damage. There is a need for tracking these objects because even the slightest changes in their orbits may predict hazardous scenarios in the near future.
How NASA Monitors Asteroids
NASA's Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) tracks asteroids like 2024 VZ2 using advanced telescopes and space missions such as Pan-STARRS, the Catalina Sky Survey, and NEOWISE. These systems provide early detection and tracking data to ensure Earth’s safety. Future missions like the NEO Surveyor will further enhance NASA’s capabilities to identify and analyse asteroids.