NASA issues an alert about asteroid 2024 ME1, hurtling through space at an alarming speed.
Asteroid 2024 ME1 Details
While 2024 ME1, a part of Amor group, will zip past our planet at a whopping 30,215 kilometres per hour (18,774 miles per hour) on July 10 at 14:51 UTC (8:21 PM IST), it will safely skim by at a comfortable distance of 4.3 million kilometres (2.7 million miles). That’s roughly 11 times the distance between Earth and the Moon!
What are Amor Asteroids?
Amor asteroids, like 2024 ME1, have orbits that bring them close to Earth but not within the planet’s orbit. Their paths are well-monitored by NASA and other space agencies, ensuring any potential threats are identified well in advance. This continuous monitoring allows scientists to predict and track these space rocks with high precision.
Asteroids are remnants from the early solar system, providing valuable information about its formation and history. Though 2024 ME1 poses no threat to Earth, its flyby offers scientists a unique opportunity to study its characteristics and behaviour, enhancing our understanding of these celestial objects.
Public interest in space and potential asteroid impacts has grown in recent years, partly due to the increasing accessibility of space-related news and the dramatic portrayal of such events in movies.