NASA has issued an alert regarding the near-Earth asteroid 2011 MW1, which is rapidly approaching the Earth at a speed of 28,946 km/h. This asteroid, approximately 380 feet in size, is expected to make its closest approach to Earth on July 25th, coming within 2.4 million miles. Does 2011 MW1 pose a risk of impact? Fortunately, no. Despite its size, comparable to that of a skyscraper, it poses no threat to Earth. NASA only flags NEOs larger than 150 metres that come within 4.6 million miles
2011 MW1 has been classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA) by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory due to its proximity to our planet. However, it does not fall under the category of ‘Potentially Hazardous Asteroids’ (PHAs).
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Asteroids like 2011 MW1 are remnants from the formation of the solar system, primarily orbiting the sun in a manner similar to planets, but on a much smaller scale. Many asteroids reside in the main asteroid belt between Jupiter and Mars (via TOI). As of July 2024, NASA’s Solar System Dynamics website lists 1,385,217 known asteroids or minor planets.
The Center for Near Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) at NASA plays a crucial role in characterizing the orbits of all NEOs, predicting their approaches to Earth, and assessing potential impacts. NEOs are defined as asteroids or comets with orbits within 120 million miles of the sun, which allows them to come close to Earth’s orbital path, posing potential risks.
Also read: NASA alert! Here’s when a ‘never-before-detected’ asteroid would hit Earth
NASA employs various observatories for asteroid tracking, including PAN-STARRS, the Catalina Sky Survey, and NASA’s NEOWISE mission. The new NEO Surveyor mission is also part of this initiative. Radar systems like the Goldstone Solar System Radar Group complement these efforts. Additionally, space agencies are developing technologies to address potential threats from celestial bodies, such as the DART mission.
