A school-bus-sized asteroid will pass by Earth this Wednesday, November 13, 2024, coming closer than the moon. The asteroid, named 2024 VX3, will approach Earth at a distance of just 92,100 miles, a fraction of the 238,900 miles that separate the Earth from the moon. Despite its proximity, NASA assures there is no risk of collision.
Size and Speed of 2024 VX3
Measuring between 20 and 43 feet in diameter, 2024 VX3 is roughly the size of a giraffe or a small dinosaur. While it might seem sizable, it’s considered small when compared to many of the other objects NASA tracks in space. Nonetheless, its proximity and speed place it in the category of Near-Earth Objects (NEOs), a group of objects that pass within 30 million miles of Earth.
This close encounter offers scientists a valuable chance to study asteroids like 2024 VX3. By analyzing these objects, astronomers can learn more about their composition, behavior, and potential risks, improving our ability to track and understand such space bodies.
Other Asteroids in Earth’s Path This Week
2024 VX3 is not the only asteroid passing by Earth this week. On Wednesday, two other NEOs—2024 VO2 and 2020 AB2—will also fly by at much greater distances. While both are similar in size to a small house (between 36 and 78 feet in diameter), they will pass Earth at much farther distances: 2024 VO2 will come within 2,730,000 miles, and 2020 AB2 will be about 4,490,000 miles away.
Thursday will see two more asteroids, 2024 VV1 and 2024 UA10, passing by. 2024 VV1, about the size of a house, will approach Earth from a distance of 4,520,000 miles, while the larger 2024 UA10, measuring between 78 and 173 feet, will be even farther at 4,550,000 miles.
For comparison, Venus, the closest planet to Earth, typically comes no closer than 24 million miles.
What Are Near-Earth Objects (NEOs)?
NEOs are asteroids or comets that pass within 30 million miles of Earth. According to Martin Barstow, a professor of astrophysics at the University of Leicester, NEOs are objects that have a closest approach to the Sun of less than 1.3 astronomical units (AU), or roughly 120 million miles. NASA and other space agencies continually monitor these objects to detect potential threats.
Some NEOs, particularly large ones, are classified as Potentially Hazardous Asteroids (PHAs). PHAs are objects that are at least 460 feet in diameter and pass within 4.6 million miles of Earth. While 2024 VX3 and other asteroids passing this week are NEOs, none of them meet the criteria to be considered PHAs, as they are smaller and will pass at safer distances.
The Threat of Larger NEOs
If a large PHA were ever to collide with Earth, the consequences could be catastrophic. According to Svetla Ben-Itzhak, a space expert at Johns Hopkins University, an asteroid of 460 feet in diameter could wipe out a city, while objects larger than a kilometer could cause global devastation, potentially leading to mass extinction.
However, NASA and international space agencies are constantly monitoring these objects. By tracking the orbits of large PHAs, scientists can provide advanced warning of any potential impacts, offering time to prepare for possible deflection strategies.
Vigilance and Preparedness
While 2024 VX3 presents no immediate threat, it serves as a reminder of the importance of space monitoring. By studying smaller NEOs, scientists can refine their detection and prediction models, which are critical for identifying and responding to larger, more dangerous asteroids.
NASA’s asteroid-tracking efforts are supported by data from international agencies, and missions like the Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) are already testing techniques to deflect potentially hazardous asteroids. These efforts aim to ensure that, should a truly dangerous asteroid ever be identified, we’ll be ready to act.
