16/12/2024,
NASA has warned that two giant asteroids will make their closest approach to Earth on Monday (December 16, 2024). These objects are named 2024 XY5 and 2024 XB6. They are hurtling towards Earth at incredible speeds.
However, NASA has confirmed that neither of them poses a threat to Earth. These near-Earth objects (NEOs) highlight the importance of vigilance by space agencies.
Asteroid 2024 XY5 is 71 feet in diameter, roughly the size of a large airplane, and travels at a speed of 10,805 miles per hour. It will make its closest approach to Earth on Monday at 12:26 a.m. IST, passing at a distance of 2.18 million miles, about 16 times the average distance between Earth and the Moon. NASA scientists say it is a “close encounter from a cosmic perspective, but nothing to be concerned about at all.”
Asteroid 2024 XB6
Shortly after, another asteroid, 2024 XB6, will approach Earth at 7:25 a.m. IST on the same day. This one is a little smaller, with a diameter of 56 feet, about the size of a house. Its speed will be even faster, reaching 23,787 km per hour, passing Earth at a safe distance of 6,690,000 km, about 17.4 times the distance of the Moon.
Are these asteroids dangerous?
Despite their size and speed, neither asteroid is considered a “potentially hazardous asteroid”. NASA defines a hazardous object as one that is more than 150 meters and within 4.6 million kilometers of Earth. “These asteroids are a reminder that we need to be vigilant of potential dangers in space,” say NASA scientists.
Why it matters
Observing asteroids like 2024 XY5 and XB6 isn’t just about safety: it’s a window into the past that can help scientists understand the structure of our solar system while protecting Earth from future threats.