Skyscraper-sized asteroid 2021 CZ2 to pass Earth in 2024: No danger, says NEOCC

Despite the media circulating numerous articles warning about this object, there is, in reality, nothing to fear. Although the asteroid will be the closest among all three objects, it will still pass by our planet at a distance of roughly 1,864,113 miles, which is about eight times the distance from Earth to the Moon.

Asteroid 2021 CZ2 was discovered and recorded in early 2021, resulting in its designated name. Hence, scientists are well-familiar with this object. The Near-Earth Object Coordination Centre (NEOCC) regularly monitors the asteroid, but anyone interested can track its flight path using the Solar System Dynamics tool.

2021 CZ2 is part of the Aten asteroid group, meaning it's a Near-Earth asteroid that predominantly orbits inside the Earth's path around the Sun. As a result, 2021 CZ2 frequently passes close to Earth. The previous occurrence of such an event took place in March 2023.

Scientists are confident that 2021 CZ2 will not collide with Earth, eliminating any need for worry in this instance. However, it cannot be completely dismissed that, in the future, other asteroids with a trajectory that intersects Earth’s orbit might appear.

Scientists keep a close watch on all objects near our planet. In case of a potential threat, appropriate measures will be undertaken. At this point, it's worth noting the NASA Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission. In this experiment, NASA tested the feasibility of adjusting the trajectory of threatening asteroids and comets. A collision probe could be used to change the object's course, thereby averting a head-on collision with our planet.