NASA reveals two asteroids to pass by Earth soon; Learn about their size and speed
NASA has reported that in recent weeks, there have been multiple instances of asteroids passing by Earth. These space rocks, which typically orbit the Sun in their own path, can be influenced by a planet’s gravitational pull, causing them to veer off course and approach Earth. This can result in asteroids being knocked out of the main belt between Mars and Jupiter, sending them in various directions across the orbits of other planets. NASA has identified two asteroids currently on a trajectory towards Earth, with an expected close pass by the planet tomorrow, March 27.
Asteroid 2024 EA3: Details
NASA’s Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) has named the first asteroid to pass Earth as asteroid 2024 EA3. It is expected to pass the Earth at a distance of only 3.1 million kilometers. The Space Agency says that it travels in orbit at a speed of 38,754 kilometers per hour.
Is it nearly 150 feet wide, making it almost the size of an airplane! It belongs to the Apollo group of Near-Earth Asteroids, which are space rocks that pass through the Earth and whose semi-major axes are larger than the Earth’s axis. These asteroids are named after the huge 1862 Apollo asteroid discovered by German astronomer Karl Reinmuth in the 1930s.
Asteroid 2024 EO4: Details
Another asteroid predicted to pass Earth tomorrow has been named Asteroid 2024 EO4. It comes close to 5.1 million kilometers and is already orbiting at a speed of 53,811 kilometers per hour.
Asteroid 2024 EO4 is smaller than Asteroid 2024 EA3, but is still the size of an airplane, at 120 feet across. According to the Swedish Space Agency, it also belongs to the group of Apollo asteroids.
