NASA has announced that two asteroids, designated 2024 YC9 and 2024 YL1, will safely pass by Earth on January 3, 2025. The larger asteroid, 2024 YC9, approximately 44 feet wide and comparable to a house, will make its closest approach at a distance of 1,310,000 kilometers at 10:17 AM IST. This distance is slightly more than three times the distance between Earth and the Moon, while the asteroid travels at a speed of 31,293 km/h.
The second asteroid, 2024 YL1, measures 38 feet, similar to a bus, and is expected to pass at a safe distance of 2,360,000 kilometers, around six times the Earth-Moon distance, at 11:33 PM IST. It is moving at a speed of 17,221 km/h.
Asteroids are rocky objects orbiting the Sun, primarily located in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. Each asteroid is unique in terms of shape, size, and composition, as well as their trajectories and orbits. They are believed to be remnants from the formation of the inner solar system, offering insights into the building blocks of planets and the processes that shaped our solar system.
NASA and other space agencies maintain vigilance in tracking Near Earth Objects (NEOs) to mitigate potential risks. Early detection systems and deflection missions are crucial in addressing any threats posed by hazardous asteroids. Last year, space agencies successfully detected four objects before they entered Earth's atmosphere, demonstrating the effectiveness of planetary defense systems.