Get ready for some space excitement! Earth is about to encounter a rare event as two ‘potentially hazardous’ asteroids will zoom close to our planet.
The first asteroid will fly by on June 27, followed by the second on June 29.
If you’re hoping to catch a glimpse of these giant space rocks with your naked eye, you’ll be disappointed. However, with a telescope or binoculars, you might spot them.
Despite their close approach, the European Space Agency assures us there’s a zero percent chance of impact with Earth. So, no need to worry!
The larger asteroid, named Asteroid (415029) 2011 UL21, is truly massive. With an estimated diameter of about 1.4 miles, it’s bigger than 99 percent of all known near-Earth objects.
It’s known as a ‘planet killer’ because if it struck Earth, it would cause unimaginable damage, possibly changing the climate for years.
For context, the asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs was about 6.5 miles wide and triggered global warming for around 100,000 years. But don’t worry, this giant space rock will safely pass by at a distance of more than four million miles.
The second asteroid, 2024 MK, was only recently discovered. It was first spotted earlier this month, just 13 days before it will pass by Earth at a remarkably close range.
While smaller than the first, Asteroid 2024 MK is still significant, with an estimated diameter between 390 and 885 feet, roughly the length of one to two and a half football fields. This asteroid will come within 184,000 miles of Earth and is expected to be exceedingly bright.
So, grab your telescope or binoculars and get ready for a fascinating celestial show. These close encounters remind us of the incredible wonders of our universe and the importance of keeping an eye on the skies.
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