The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has issued an alert regarding an asteroid approaching Earth today, June 23, 2024. This celestial body, designated as Asteroid 2024 KN1, is estimated to be the size of an 88-foot airplane. Classified as an Amor asteroid, it measures approximately 27 meters (88 feet) in diameter and will be traveling at a speed of roughly 16,500 kilometers per hour.
Despite its size and speed, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory has assured the public that Asteroid 2024 KN1 will safely pass by Earth, maintaining a distance of 5.6 million kilometers, which is approximately 14 times the distance between Earth and the Moon. This safe passage will occur at 11:39 PM IST on June 23, 2024.
Asteroid 2024 KN1 has been categorized as non-threatening, emphasizing that it will not come close enough to pose any risk of impact. This reassurance comes as other asteroids are also scheduled to pass near Earth in the coming days.
According to NASA, two asteroids will pass near Earth on June 25. The first, Asteroid 2024 LO5, measures 62 feet in diameter and will pass at a distance of 1,960,000 kilometers. The second, Asteroid 2024 KJ, is 77 feet in size and will approach Earth at a distance of 5,260,000 kilometers.
On June 27, another close encounter is expected with a 64-foot asteroid named 2019 NJ, which will pass at a distance of 6,610,000 kilometers. Additionally, on the same day, a larger asteroid, 415029 (2011 UL21), measuring approximately 7,200 feet in size, will make its closest approach to Earth at 6,640,000 kilometers.
In separate news, NASA has announced that the return of the Boeing Starliner to Earth from the International Space Station has been delayed again. The original return date of next week has been postponed to allow for a thorough review of thruster malfunctions and helium leaks that caused the initial delay. Starliner’s first crewed mission to the ISS, initially planned for a duration of approximately eight days, has been extended to a date yet to be determined.
With numerous asteroids passing close to Earth and the ongoing review of Starliner’s return, it remains a busy time for NASA and the world of space exploration. Stay tuned for updates on these developments.
