A few days ago, NASA released the first images of a newly discovered asteroid, 2024 JV33. The space agency captured the photos as the object passed close to Earth. 2024 JV33, notable for its “peanut” shape, has joined the extensive list of “potentially hazardous” objects for Earth. However, it doesn’t pose an immediate threat.
In transit. Recently, NASA announced the discovery of asteroid 2024 JV33. The space agency studied the rock as it approached our planet on Aug. 18, a journey that culminated on Aug. 26.
On that day, the asteroid passed at 2.8 million miles from our planet, or about 0.0307 astronomical units. In other words, it was about 30% of the average distance that separates us from the Sun.
2024 JV33. The astronomers who analyzed the asteroid were able to glean some interesting data about it and also rule out the possibility of it crashing into Earth in the near future. It’s an object about 980 feet long and about 490 feet wide that rotates on itself every seven hours.
NASA explains that its orbit is like that of comets affected by Jupiter’s gravitational pull. The space agency notes that although it hasn’t observed any activity indicating that 2024 JV33 is a comet, it could be the inactive nucleus of one of these celestial bodies.
“Potentially hazardous.” If NASA has already ruled out the possibility of this asteroid hitting Earth, why is it calling it “potentially hazardous”? These objects are asteroids and similar bodies whose orbits bring them close to Earth’s orbit, opening the door to a possible impact.
That crash may take place in the distant future or never occur, but that doesn’t mean the object is no longer “potentially” hazardous. NASA and other agencies closely monitor these objects to make orbital predictions as far in advance as possible. By doing so, they have time to act in case of a potential impact.
This is why these observations are so important. Because of them, we know that 2024 JV33 will pass close to Earth again in August 2068, although this time, it will remain at a distance of about 4.8 million miles from the planet.
Goldstone Solar System Radar. The Goldstone Solar System Radar in California took the images of the peanut-shaped asteroid that that NASA released. The telescope is part of the Near-Earth Object Observations Program.
Space peanuts. This peanut-shaped asteroid may be striking, but it’s common among space rocks. They’re so common that there’s a name for them: contact binaries.
These binaries are rocky objects formed by two bodies bound together in orbit due to their gravitational interaction. NASA estimates that 14% of near-Earth asteroids larger than 660 feet have this “peanut” shape, meaning they’re contact binaries.
Image | NASA
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