It looks like it’s showering asteroids in September. Two more asteroids—2020 GE and 2024 RO11—are set to pass by Earth on September 24, according to NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
The smaller of the two, asteroid 2020 GE, measures 26 feet in diameter, about the size of a bus. It will come relatively close to Earth, passing at a distance of just 410,000 miles.
Two peanut-shaped asteroids in one month?
That begs the question… How many peanut-shaped asteroids does it take to qualify as a peanut gallery??
More on 2024ON, which safely flew past Earth on Tuesday: pic.twitter.com/v1jgtxJqkM
— NASA JPL (@NASAJPL) September 18, 2024
Asteroid 2024 RO11, recently discovered, is much larger at 120 feet, almost the size of an airplane. It will pass by Earth at a safe distance of around 4,580,000 miles.
Despite their proximity, both asteroids pose no threat to our planet. Equipped with specialized telescopes, skywatchers may even catch a glimpse of them on the 24th.
Following closely on September 25 is another asteroid, 2024 RK7. Slightly smaller than 2024 RO11, this asteroid measures 100 feet in diameter.
Asteroids, rocky bodies made of metals and minerals, orbit the Sun just like planets, with most residing in the asteroid belt. They vary in size and shape, and while many pass safely by Earth, some enter our atmosphere. These are called meteoroids, which often burn up, creating bright streaks in the sky known as meteors.
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