Daily Washington Insider
  • Business
  • World
  • Science
  • Investing

Daily Washington Insider

  • Business
  • World
  • Science
  • Investing
Science

Asteroid travelling at more than 40,000mph to reach its closest point to Earth today

by admin July 9, 2024
July 9, 2024
Asteroid travelling at more than 40,000mph to reach its closest point to Earth today

An asteroid is whipping past Earth today, travelling at more than 40,000 miles per hour.

NASA says the asteroid will pass just 936,000 miles away from Earth, a relatively close-shave in space terms.

It’s the closest the asteroid, known as 2024 MT-1, will come to the planet during its orbit around the sun – however, it poses no risk to life on Earth.

2024 MT-1 takes around 1.2 years to orbit the sun and is just over 79 metres wide. For context, Westminster Abbey’s tower height is about 68m.

An asteroid is a relatively small rock that orbits the sun, usually made up of dusty, metallic and rocky materials.

Most of them orbit within the main asteroid belt which is between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter, but some follow paths that circulate into the inner solar system, including 2024 MT-1.

NASA’s Planetary Defence office watches asteroids and meteors that may pose a threat to life on Earth.

An object larger than about 150 metres that can approach the Earth within 4.6 million miles is deemed “a potentially hazardous object” by the agency.

2024 MT-1 does not meet that criteria as it is too small.

In June, NASA tracked five small asteroids came closer to Earth than the moon and said around 100 tonnes of dust and sand-sized particles bombard our planet every day.

This post appeared first on sky.com

0
FacebookTwitterGoogle +Pinterest
previous post
Bird flu spread to cows takes ‘dangerous’ step towards infecting humans through respiration, scientists warn
next post
Injured American citizen’s condition ‘worsening’ after Hezbollah missiles fired toward Israel

You may also like

Google illegally maintained online search monopoly, US court...

August 6, 2024

Ancient Egyptians performed cancer surgery, ‘extraordinary’ new evidence...

May 30, 2024

Perseid meteor shower: Where and how to watch...

August 11, 2024

Prehistoric DNA being dug up to see if...

May 6, 2024

Dengue fever cases rising as climate change draws...

June 13, 2024

Prostate cancer test shown to ‘reduce number of...

October 14, 2024

‘All good here’: One of final messages from...

September 17, 2024

Nearly complete dinosaur fossil sells for record £34m

July 18, 2024

UK cows not being tested for bird flu...

April 26, 2024

Mount Everest is getting taller – now scientists...

October 1, 2024

    Stay updated with the latest news, exclusive offers, and special promotions. Sign up now and be the first to know! As a member, you'll receive curated content, insider tips, and invitations to exclusive events. Don't miss out on being part of something special.


    By opting in you agree to receive emails from us and our affiliates. Your information is secure and your privacy is protected.

    Popular

    • 1

      Hong Kong plans to install thousands of surveillance cameras. Critics say it’s...

    • 2

      UN experts urge Thailand not to deport dozens of Uyghurs to China where they face ‘real risk of torture’

    • 3

      China executes man who plowed car into crowds in deadliest attack in a decade

    • 4

      Trump has assembled a team of China hawks. How will Beijing respond?

    • 5

      How Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger got caught in Trump’s trade war with China

    Categories

    • Business (1,301)
    • Investing (3,423)
    • Science (605)
    • World (3,677)
    Footer Logo

    Disclaimer: dailywashingtoninsider.com, its managers, its employees, and assigns (collectively “The Company”) do not make any guarantee or warranty about what is advertised above. Information provided by this website is for research purposes only and should not be considered as personalized financial advice. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendation. Any investments recommended here should be taken into consideration only after consulting with your investment advisor and after reviewing the prospectus or financial statements of the company.

    Copyright © 2024 dailywashingtoninsider.com | All Rights Reserved