None of them represent a risk to our planet, but one of them was discovered just a week ago
This week, two large asteroids will pass close to the Land. None of them pose a risk to our planet, but one of them was discovered just a week ago.
According to POThighlights the need to continue improving our ability to detect potentially dangerous objects in our cosmic neighborhood.
The asteroid 2024 MK has a size between 120 and 260 meters and was discovered on June 16. The asteroid will pass June 29 290,000 km from the Earth’s surface, approximately 75% of the distance between the Earth and the Moon.
There is no risk of 2024 MK hitting Earth. However, an asteroid of this size would cause considerable damage if it did so, so its discovery just a week before it passes close to our planet highlights the ongoing need to improve our ability to detect and monitor near-Earth objects. (NEO) potentially dangerous.
Due to its size and proximity, 2024 MK will be observable in dark, clear skies on June 29 using a small telescope or good binoculars for amateur astronomers in some parts of the world.
June 27th
Asteroid (415029) 2011 UL21 is the largest of visitors of the week. At 2,310 meters in diameter, this asteroid is larger than 99% of all known near-Earth objects (NEOs). However, it won’t get that close to Earth. At its closest point, June 27will continue to be more than 17 times the distance that separates us from the Moon.
This asteroid’s orbit around the Sun is highly inclined, which is unusual for such a large object. Most large objects in the Solar System, including planets and asteroids, orbit the Sun in or near the equatorial plane.
This could be the result of gravitational interactions with a large planet like Jupiter. Jupiter can deflect previously safe asteroids toward Earthso it is important to understand this process.
(415029) 2011 UL21 is in an “11:34 resonance” with Earth. It completes 11 revolutions around the Sun in almost the same amount of time as the Earth completes 34 revolutions (i.e. 34 years).
The result is a pleasing repeating pattern when viewing the asteroid’s location relative to Earth over a 34-year period while Earth remains fixed in place.
