If you’re a space and astronomy fan, then this is a good month for you. There is going to be increased asteroid activity this September. As per NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, two asteroids are expected to pass by Earth on September 24.
For those unaware, asteroids are rocky bodies that are made up of metals and minerals and orbit the sun, just like the planets. While many remain in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, some pass closer to Earth.
The two asteroids go by the given name of 2020 GE and 2024 RO11. Out of the two, asteroid 2020 GE is the smaller one and measures 26 feet in diameter. For reference, this is as big as a bus. It will also be relatively closer to Earth and will pass at a distance of 410,000 miles. This is slightly farther than the average distance between the Earth and the Moon.
Asteroid 2024 RO11, on the other hand, was discovered more recently and is much larger. It measures 120 feet in diameter. For reference, this is roughly the size of a commercial airplane. But its distance will be greater, it will be around 4.58 million miles away from Earth.
You must be worried if these asteroids pose any threat. Well no, despite their proximity, both asteroids pose no threat to Earth. If you are an enthusiast, then you might even catch a glimpse of these asteroids on September 24. You will have to be prepared with specialised telescopes, however.
And even if you miss this one, this isn’t the last asteroid movement of the month. On September 25, another asteroid, 2024 RK7, can be spotted. It is slightly smaller than the 2024 RO11. It measured about 100 feet in diameter and is also passing Earth at a safe distance.