Another asteroid, 2011 MW1, is approaching Earth at a speed of 28,946 km per hour. NASA has issued a warning about this asteroid. 2011 MW1 is an Apollo class asteroid and is about 380 feet in size. According to NASA’s CNEOS data, it will be only 2.4 million miles away at its closest approach to Earth. It is predicted to pass Earth on July 25th.
2011 MW1 is a very small asteroid with an orbit that brings it close to, but not too close to, Earth’s orbit. NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory classifies it as a Near-Earth Asteroid (NEA) due to its distance from Earth, but it does not fall into the category of “Potentially Hazardous Asteroids (PHA)”. NASA is aware of fewer than 35,000 NEOs in existence.
The size of this asteroid is roughly the same as a skyscraper. Although its size may seem intimidating, according to NASA, this asteroid does not pose a threat to Earth and at the same time, it is closely monitoring the orbit and movement of this space rock.
Asteroids are remnants of material left behind after the formation of the Solar System. They mostly orbit the Sun like planets, but are much smaller than planets. Many asteroids reside in the main asteroid belt between Jupiter and Mars. According to JPL’s Solar System Dynamics website, as of July 2024, there are 1,385,217 known asteroids, or minor planets.
Asteroid Watch
NASA’s Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) is responsible for characterizing the orbits of all near-Earth objects and uses an established system to predict their approach and impact assessment to Earth. Near-Earth objects are asteroids or comets that orbit within 120 miles of the Sun, and therefore may pass close to Earth’s orbit, posing a hazard.
NASA has various observatories dedicated to collecting asteroid tracking information. Some of them are PANSTARRS, Catalina Sky Survey, NASA’s NEOWISE mission, and the new NEO Surveyor. There are also a number of radar planetary initiatives, such as the Goldstone Solar System Radar Group, which complements NASA’s NEO observing program. In addition to that, the space agency is developing technologies to deal with potential threats from celestial objects, such as the DART mission.
2011 MW1 is a very small asteroid with an orbit that brings it close to, but not too close to, Earth’s orbit. NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory classifies it as a Near-Earth Asteroid (NEA) due to its distance from Earth, but it does not fall into the category of “Potentially Hazardous Asteroids (PHA)”. NASA is aware of fewer than 35,000 NEOs in existence.
The size of this asteroid is roughly the same as a skyscraper. Although its size may seem intimidating, according to NASA, this asteroid does not pose a threat to Earth and at the same time, it is closely monitoring the orbit and movement of this space rock.
Expanding
Asteroids are remnants of material left behind after the formation of the Solar System. They mostly orbit the Sun like planets, but are much smaller than planets. Many asteroids reside in the main asteroid belt between Jupiter and Mars. According to JPL’s Solar System Dynamics website, as of July 2024, there are 1,385,217 known asteroids, or minor planets.
Asteroid Watch
NASA’s Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) is responsible for characterizing the orbits of all near-Earth objects and uses an established system to predict their approach and impact assessment to Earth. Near-Earth objects are asteroids or comets that orbit within 120 miles of the Sun, and therefore may pass close to Earth’s orbit, posing a hazard.
NASA has various observatories dedicated to collecting asteroid tracking information. Some of them are PANSTARRS, Catalina Sky Survey, NASA’s NEOWISE mission, and the new NEO Surveyor. There are also a number of radar planetary initiatives, such as the Goldstone Solar System Radar Group, which complements NASA’s NEO observing program. In addition to that, the space agency is developing technologies to deal with potential threats from celestial objects, such as the DART mission.
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