Another asteroid 2011 MW1 is hastening too close to earth at a speed of 28,946 km/h. NASA has issued an alarm regarding this asteroid. 2011 MW1 is an Apollo-class Asteroid which is approximately 380 feet in size.
 |
| Representational Image(Pic Credit: Canva) |
According to NASA's CNEOS data, it will be just 2.4 million miles when it makes its closest approach to Earth. It is estimated to flyby earth on July 25.
2011 MW1 is a giant of an asteroid whose orbit approaches the earth’s orbit but not too closely.NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory has characterized it as a Near Earth Asteroid(NEA) due to its distance from the earth but is not considered under the category of ‘Potentially Hazardous Asteroids(PHA’s).
NASA has recognized the existence of not more than 35,000 NEO’s.
The size of this asteroid is approximately similar to the size of a skyscraper. While the size might be alarming, the asteroid poses no threat to Earth as per NASA, at the same time a close watch is being kept on the trajectory and motion of this space rock.
Asteroids are remnants of material left after the formation of the solar system. They mostly orbit the sun like planets but are much smaller than them.
A lot of asteroids live in the main asteroid belt between Jupiter and Mars. As of July, 2024 there are 1,385,217 known asteroids or minor planets, according to the JPL's Solar System Dynamics website.
Asteroid Watch
NASA’s Centre for Near Earth Object Studies(CNEOS) is responsible for characterizing the orbits of all Near Earth Objects and with the system established-predicts its approaches to earth and impact assessment.
NEO’s are asteroids or comets whose orbits are within the distance of 120 miles from the Sun and hence can fly by earth’s orbital neighborhood, posing a risk.
NASA has various observatories that specifically work towards collecting asteroid tracking information. Some of them include- PAN- STARRS , the Catalina Sky Survey, NASA’s NEOWISE mission and the new NEO Surveyor. There are many radar planetary initiatives, like Goldstone Solar System Radar Group which complement NASA’s NEO Observations Program. Along with that space agencies are creating technologies to tackle any potential threat from celestial bodies like- the DART mission.
Did you like this article? Please let us know in the comments below!