Current:Home > FinanceThis Valentine's Day, love is in the air and a skyscraper-sized asteroid is whizzing past Earth -GrowthSphere Strategies
This Valentine's Day, love is in the air and a skyscraper-sized asteroid is whizzing past Earth
View
Date:2025-04-15 00:10:05
It's Valentine's Day, meaning love is in the atmosphere and a giant space rock is expected to pass by just outside of it. Well, maybe not that close, but still pretty close – 4.6 million kilometers or roughly 2.86 million miles – to be more precise.
The asteroid, named 2024 BR4 by NASA's Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS), is loosely estimated to measure between 140 and 300 meters, or 459 and 984 feet in diameter, which is taller than most skyscrapers. Due to its size, it has been deemed "potentially hazardous" by NASA.
Here's what to know about the celestial event.
We're not the only ones with an eclipse:Mars rover captures moon whizzing by sun's outline
When will asteroid 2024 BR4 pass by Earth?
Asteroid 2024 BR4 will pass by Earth on Feb. 14, 2024, around 11:00 UTC.
What is asteroid 2024 BR4?
See a video:NASA tracked a stadium-size asteroid that passed by Earth but was not a threat
The asteroid was first observed during the automatic Catalina Sky Survey in January and was soon after determined to be about 12 million kilometers, or 7.5 million miles, from Earth. It has since approached Earth steadily but is not expected to pass any closer than 4.6 million kilometers, which is still relatively close: a little less than twelve times the distance between the Earth and the Moon.
2024 BR4 is believed to be part of a group of asteroids called Apollo, which has an orbit that sometimes overlaps with Earth's. Despite the group's closeness to our planet, scientists don't anticipate any significant impact threat for a few centuries.
Should we be worried about the asteroid?
While the object is traveling through space at about 9.86 kilometers per second, NASA has assured there is no threat of collision. With a tracking system that has recorded 33,000 near-Earth objects, the organization keeps close tabs on all observable space bodies that get a little too close.
This Valentine's Day is the closest this specific space object will get to Earth for the next 120 years, meaning we can rest assured that this asteroid, at least, isn't out to get us anytime soon.
veryGood! (8546)
Related
- Nearly 400 USAID contract employees laid off in wake of Trump's 'stop work' order
- Federal Spending Freeze Could Have Widespread Impact on Environment, Emergency Management
- The Grammy nominee you need to hear: Esperanza Spalding
- Stamford Road collision sends motorcyclist flying; driver arrested
- Retirement planning: 3 crucial moves everyone should make before 2025
- Appeals court scraps Nasdaq boardroom diversity rules in latest DEI setback
- The Super Bowl could end in a 'three
- Which apps offer encrypted messaging? How to switch and what to know after feds’ warning
- Brianna LaPaglia Reveals The Meaning Behind Her "Chickenfry" Nickname
- Backstage at New York's Jingle Ball with Jimmy Fallon, 'Queer Eye' and Meghan Trainor
Ranking
- Selena Gomez's "Weird Uncles" Steve Martin and Martin Short React to Her Engagement
- Nevada attorney general revives 2020 fake electors case
- See you latte: Starbucks plans to cut 30% of its menu
- Former longtime South Carolina congressman John Spratt dies at 82
- Selena Gomez's "Weird Uncles" Steve Martin and Martin Short React to Her Engagement
- Trump invites nearly all federal workers to quit now, get paid through September
- Trump issues order to ban transgender troops from serving openly in the military
- 'Vanderpump Rules' star DJ James Kennedy arrested on domestic violence charges
Recommendation
Federal hiring is about to get the Trump treatment
The FBI should have done more to collect intelligence before the Capitol riot, watchdog finds
South Korean president's party divided over defiant martial law speech
All That You Wanted to Know About She’s All That
Federal appeals court upholds $14.25 million fine against Exxon for pollution in Texas
2 killed, 3 injured in shooting at makeshift club in Houston
EU countries double down on a halt to Syrian asylum claims but will not yet send people back
Nearly half of US teens are online ‘constantly,’ Pew report finds