NASA’s Center for Near Earth Object Studies has issued a warning that a near-Earth object or NEO known as 2024 MK, is set to pass closer to Earth than the Moon later this month.
The asteroid, estimated to be between 394 to 885 feet in diameter, is approximately Washington Monument-sized. For comparison purposes, the Washington Monument is 555 feet tall, and the Eiffel Tower is 1,083 feet tall.
The asteroid will make its closest approach on June 29, coming within approximately 50,000 miles of Earth’s orbit, according to NASA’s Center for Near Earth Object Studies.
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NEO Warning
The news has sparked concerns due to the asteroid’s size. Experts have emphasized that while this NEO poses no immediate threat of impact with Earth, its trajectory underscores the ongoing vigilance needed in tracking potentially hazardous asteroids.
Dr. Marco Fenucci, a dynamicist at the European Space Agency’s Near-Earth Objects Coordination Centre, co-authored a paper highlighting the asteroid’s future orbit crossings, noting the possibility of impacts on Mars over the next 20,000 years.
