This Valentine's Day, love is in the air and a skyscraper-sized asteroid is whizzing past Earth

2024-12-26 20:51:42 source:lotradecoin API integration guide category:reviews

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.

More:reviews

Recommend

Oregon lawmakers to hold special session on emergency wildfire funding

SALEM, Ore. (AP) — Oregon lawmakers are convening Thursday for a special session to discuss emergenc

Why Wicked’s Marissa Bode Wants Her Casting to Set A New Precedent in Hollywood

Marissa Bode hopes her role in Wicked will defy more than gravity going forward.The 24-year-old—who

Alabama vs LSU live updates: Crimson Tide-Tigers score, highlights and more from SEC game

A pseudo-College Football Playoff elimination game headlines the Week 11 college football schedule,