An asteroid designated as 2024 ON will hurtle close to Earth at 25,000 mph on September 15, 2025. NASA has issued a critical alert but has stated that there is no possibility of a collision with Earth.
The asteroid is 720 feet in diameter, about the size of a 60-storey skyscraper. The asteroid is expected to wiz past Earth at a distance of 0.62 million miles which is two and half times the distance of the Moon from Earth. Earthlings can breathe easily since it is not near enough to pose a danger.
Is Earth in Danger?
The Near-Earth Object Observations Program headed by G. Borisov first spotted them on September 5, 2024.
2024 ON belongs to a group of near-earth objects and has orbits which crisscross the Earth’s orbit around the Sun and often lead to close approaches from Earth. NASA regularly monitors these asteroids since they wiz past Earth and are potentially dangerous.
Even if an asteroid the size of 2024 ON collides with Earth, it will have a devastating effect. An asteroid of this size entering the Earth’s atmosphere will explode 29 kilometres above the Earth and will release energy equivalent to 16 megatons of TNT.
The explosion will create a shockwave of destructive consequences. However 2024 ON will pass safely without any harm.
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