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January 2024 was filled with numerous asteroid approaches, and February will continue the trend. But how are these asteroids detected? When NASA telescopes track a new near-Earth asteroid (NEA), astronomers measure the asteroid’s observed positions in the sky and report them to the Minor Planet Center. The Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) uses that data to determine the asteroid’s most likely orbit around the Sun, according to NASA. Using its advanced technology, NASA has shed light on up to three asteroids that will pass by Earth today, February 19. See details.
Asteroid 2024 CV8
The first asteroid to pass by Earth today has been designated Asteroid 2024 CV8 by NASA CNEOS. It is expected to pass by Earth at a distance of only 451,000 kilometers. According to the US Space Agency, it travels in its orbit at a speed of 61,607 kilometers per hour, almost the speed of a space shuttle!
In terms of size, it is almost 64 feet wide, making it almost as big as a house. It belongs to the Apollo group of near-Earth asteroids, which are Earth-crossing space rocks with semimajor axes larger than those of Earth. These asteroids are named after the massive Apollo asteroid of 1862, discovered by German astronomer Karl Reinmuth in the 1930s.
Asteroid 2024 CJ6
The second asteroid, named Asteroid 2024 CJ6, is heading towards Earth in its orbit at a speed of 55,435 kilometers per hour. NASA expects this space rock to pass by Earth today at a close distance of approximately 1.7 million kilometers.
In terms of size, asteroid 2024 CJ6 has a width of almost 56 feet, which means it is also as big as a house. The asteroid also belongs to the Apollo asteroid group.
Asteroid 2024 DC
The last asteroid to pass by Earth today has been designated Asteroid 2024 AD. It will approach the planet at 4.7 million kilometers and is already traveling around it in its orbit around the Sun at a speed of 33,306 kilometers per hour. Asteroid 2024 AD is the largest of all, measuring nearly 52 feet wide. It also belongs to the Apollo asteroid group.
It is important to note that while the three asteroids have been called near-Earth asteroids due to their short passing distance, they are not expected to impact the planet.
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