Mar 13 • 06:17 UTC 🇪🇪 Estonia Postimees

Bus-sized asteroid narrowly missed Earth last night - discovered only last week

An asteroid comparable in size to a city bus, named 2024 EG1, made a close flyby of Earth last night without posing any threat.

An asteroid known as 2024 EG1, discovered just days ago on March 8, made a safe and rapid flyby of Earth on the night of March 13. The asteroid, measuring between 10 to 22 meters wide, passed at a distance of 317,791 kilometers from Earth—about 83% of the average distance to the Moon—providing an exciting observation opportunity for astronomers. It flew silently under Antarctica and posed no threat to our planet or its natural satellite, the Moon. NASA reported that 2024 EG1 was traveling at an astonishing speed of 34,621 kilometers per hour relative to Earth. As the asteroid continues its journey through the solar system, astronomers will likely keep monitoring its path and any potential future encounters. This event highlights the ongoing need for vigilance in tracking Near-Earth Objects (NEOs) to ensure planetary safety. The asteroid's recent discovery emphasizes how quickly space objects can be located and monitored. With continuous advancements in astronomical technology, the ability to detect and analyze such celestial bodies improves. Events like the flyby of 2024 EG1 serve to enhance our understanding of the dynamics and movements of asteroids, reinforcing the importance of global efforts in planetary defense and research in space science.

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