Space: two asteroids, including one (really) enormous, will “graze” Earth in the coming days

International Asteroid Day falls on Sunday June 30 in 2024. The famous coincidence of the calendar means that, this year, two asteroids – harmless but still quite large – will pass close to our planet in 42 hours.

(415029) 2011 UL21 – a space behemoth

The first, (415029) 2011 UL21, will pass 6,634,850 km closest to Earth. For comparison, Venus, the planet closest to us on average, when it is in “direct” proximity to Earth, is still 42,000 km away.

He will be closest to us this Thursday, June 27, 2024 at 10:15 p.m. And hold on: it’s 2,310 m. According to the European Space Agency (ESA), it is larger than 99% of asteroids near Earth. A monster, discovered in October 2011.

Once again, no danger with this asteroid. And so much the better, because an object of this size falling on us would cause colossal damage: tsunamis, earthquakes, etc.

What is of particular interest to scientists is its very particular orbit, which you can discover in the visual just below:

To observe it, you will need a telescope with a lens of at least 20 cm.

2024 MK – discovered two weeks before its passage

The second, 2024 MK, will “graze” us this Saturday June 29, 2024. We say “graze”, but in fact, at its closest, it will be 290,000 km from us. Above all, on an astronomical scale, it is very little: the Moon is, on average, 380,000 km from the Earth.

It will be at exactly 3:46 p.m. French time that it will be closest to Earth. Given the daytime time, it will be difficult to see it. But, because of its size – it measures between 120 and 260 m – it will be possible to observe it in the evening, with a small telescope.

What is original about this asteroid is that it was discovered on Sunday June 16, 2024. Its maximum point of approach and its date of discovery are therefore separated by barely 15 days.

Fortunately, NASA scientists have been working on a space program to protect against asteroid impacts. We are talking here about the DART program, sending an Earth probe towards the object to hit it and try to deflect its trajectory.

Anyway, no risks with 2024 MK either. It is Richard Moissl, from the planetary defense office of the European Space Agency who says it on the ESA website: “it is rare to discover an asteroid so large so close to the Earth, but there is no no chance of an impact taking place.” Phew!

Follow all the news from your favorite cities and media by subscribing to My News.