The 2024 asteroid will pass Earth at a safe distance, though its speed remains a concern.
Asteroid 2024 ON, about 720 feet wide, will safely pass Earth today at a distance of 997,793 kilometers, which is more than 2.5 times the distance between Earth and the Moon. Even though it will pass safely, NASA has noted that its speed—40,233 km/h—is something to keep an eye on. The asteroid will be closest to Earth on September 17.
The 2024 ON asteroid was discovered recently, on July 27, by the ATLAS Sky Survey. If you’re interested in watching, a live stream of the asteroid passing by will be available at virtualtelescope.eu/webtv on September 15, starting at 19:30 UTC (1:00 AM on September 16).
NASA’s Near-Earth Object Observations Program is closely monitoring the asteroid using telescopes from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California. Scientists are studying the asteroid to learn more about its size, shape, and what it’s made of.
NASA’s Planetary Defense Coordination Office (PDCO) is also prepared to track and act if needed. According to NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, close encounters with asteroids like this one happen about once every 10 years.
It’s actually quite common for asteroids to pass Earth. Several others, like 2024 RQ5 (the size of a bus) and 2024 RM10 (the size of a plane), are also passing by today without any risk to us.