NASA revealed that the Apollo team asteroid is expected to pass by the Earth within a range of 3.2 million kilometers today

As many as two asteroids narrowly passed by Earth yesterday. Both space rocks are called near-Earth asteroids (NEAs). Despite their close proximity to Earth, these asteroids are not expected to hit Earth, which is what happens when they pass harmlessly by. But how to monitor these asteroids in the first place? NASA said that once its telescopes track a new near-Earth object, astronomers will track the asteroid’s observed position in the sky and report it to the Minor Planet Center. The Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) then studied the data to determine its most likely orbit around the sun. Using this technology, NASA has discovered an asteroid that is expected to narrowly pass by Earth today (March 13).

Also read: What are asteroids and how ESA tracks them

Asteroid 2024 EL1

The asteroid that passed the Earth today was named asteroid 2024 EL1 by NASA CNEOS. During its close approach, it will be closest to Earth at a distance of 3.2 million kilometers. NASA said the asteroid is orbiting the sun at an astonishing speed of 28,351 kilometers per hour, which is faster than an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM)!

Asteroid 2024 EL1 is just one of two asteroids expected to pass by Earth today, the other being 2024 EC3.

Is it dangerous?

Although asteroid 2024 EL1 will be very close to the Earth, it will not pose a danger to the Earth due to its relatively small size. NASA says the asteroid is almost as big as a house and 56 feet wide. It is almost the same size as the asteroid that exploded over Chelyabinsk in 2013. It damaged 7,000 buildings, sent shards of glass flying across Russian cities, and injured nearly 1,000 people.

Also read: Passing 350 feet across the Earth on March 12

NASA said that asteroid 2024 EL1 belongs to the Apollo group of near-Earth asteroids, which are space rocks that pass through the Earth and have a semi-major axis larger than the major axis of the Earth. These asteroids are named after the giant 1862 Apollo asteroid, which was discovered by German astronomer Karl Reinmuth in the 1930s.

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