Asteroid 2024 ON, Roughly The Size Of A 60-Storey Building, Approaching Earth In Possible Close Call

NASA has issued an alert about a large asteroid called 2024 ON, which is approaching Earth at a high speed.

2024 ON has left astronomers and space enthusiasts awestruck since its discovery and the fact that the asteroid, which is roughly the size of two football fields, will closely pass the Earth has also excited the stargazing community.

NASA said 2024 ON is hurtling towards Earth at a speed of 40,235 kilometres per hour and will make its closest approach to Earth on September 15, 2024.

The asteroid was discovered by G. Borisov on September 5, 2024, the Virtual Telescope Project said.

The asteroid, which is as large as a 60-story building, will pass at a distance of about 620,000 miles. This is slightly more than two and a half times the distance between Earth and the Moon.

“On 7 June 2024, the near-Earth asteroid 2024 RR3 will have a very close, but safe encounter with the Earth. It will come as close as 360,000 km, about 93% the average lunar distance. We observed it while it was approaching us,” the Virtual Telescope Project said in a blogpost released on their website.

NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, is leading the effort to track and analyse the asteroid’s path even though the likelihood of a collision with Earth is currently deemed low. The asteroid which is approximately 720 feet in diameter was first detected by NASA’s Near-Earth Object Observations Program.

Researchers from the European Space Agency (ESA) and universities worldwide are working with NASA to study the asteroid. Their efforts focus on analyzing its composition to understand the materials of celestial bodies and gain insights into the early solar system.

Can 2024 ON Be Seen In The Night Sky

Public interest in 2024 ON is high, with NASA sharing updates via its website and social media. The asteroid’s approach will be visible from the Northern Hemisphere, and sky watchers can view it through the Virtual Telescope Project’s live feed.