Asteroid 2024 YY5 to safely zoom past Earth on January 26
NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory is tracking the asteroid 2024 YY5. The space rock will approach Earth on Sunday, January 26. Scientists have assured us that it poses no threat to our planet.
According to indiatimes.com, on Sunday, January 26, 2025, the asteroid named 2024 YY5 will pass by Earth. This event has sparked interest among the scientific community and astronomy enthusiasts. Asteroid 2024 YY5 has a diameter of approximately 44 feet. When it reaches our planet, it will be traveling at a speed of about 5,450 miles per hour.
Although asteroid 2024 YY5 is approaching our planet, experts have confirmed that there is no reason for concern. According to NASA, an asteroid is classified as a potentially hazardous asteroid (PHA) only if it is more than 492 feet in size and passes at a critical distance. In the case of 2024 YY5, it is significantly smaller and will maintain a safe trajectory, posing no threat to Earth.
According to media sources, the asteroid will pass us at an estimated distance of about 2,970,000 miles from Earth. Such distances far exceed the threshold deemed potentially hazardous by NASA for larger asteroids. This threshold is 4.6 million miles.
Monitoring potentially hazardous objects to Earth
According to moneycontrol.com, asteroids like 2024 YY5 are relics from the formation of the Solar System. These ancient objects occasionally approach Earth's orbit. NASA uses advanced radar and tracking tools to observe their paths.
Monitoring near-Earth objects (NEOs) helps assess risks and protect the planet from potential threats. NASA collaborates with several observatories, such as Pan-STARRS1 in Hawaii and the Catalina Sky Survey in Arizona, as well as with space telescopes. This collaboration allows scientists to plot the orbits of asteroids, gathering valuable information about them.
