Large asteroid to pass Earth!
Large asteroid will safely pass Earth A large space rock will safely pass Earth today (April 15, 2024).
That makes it about twice as large as Apophis, the so-called doomsday asteroid that will pass closer than Earth’s artificial satellites in 2029.
Meanwhile, today, 2013 NK4 will pass at a much farther distance.
The asteroid’s orbit Because the asteroid occasionally passes near Earth and is a fairly large space rock, 2013 NK4 holds the scary-sounding designation of Potentially Hazardous Asteroid.
However, we’ve known about asteroid 2013 NK4 since 2013 (thus the year designation in its name), and it has a well-defined orbit.
Use a telescope to see the large asteroid Using “GoTo” or computerized telescopes makes observing an asteroid easier than ever before.
Bottom line: A large asteroid – 2013 NK4, which spans about 2,000 feet across – will safely pass by Earth on April 15, 2024.
This one-minute video summary was made by Deborah Byrd of EarthSky and features a large asteroid passing Earth.
Big asteroid will pass Earth without incident.
Today, April 15, 2024, a sizable space rock will pass Earth safely. The asteroid is designated 2013 NK4, and it’s large enough to be visible with a small telescope. Around 2,000 feet (610 meters) is its diameter. In comparison, Apophis, the asteroid that is predicted to bring about the end of the world and pass nearer Earth’s artificial satellites in 2029, is roughly twice as large as this one. In the meantime, 2013 NK4 will pass by at a significantly greater distance today. It is traveling at a speed greater than eight times that of the moon. It’s incredibly cool because it will pass by Earth and be visible to those with telescopes!
On Monday, April 15, 2024, at 14:51 UTC, asteroid 2013 NK4 will make its closest approach. Nevertheless, on the evenings of April 16 and 17, it will be simpler to view through a telescope due to its sky position. Look at the finder charts below.
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An orbit around an asteroid.
The asteroid 2013 NK4 is classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid because it is a fairly large space rock that passes close to Earth on occasion. Nevertheless, asteroid 2013 NK4 has a well-defined orbit and we have been aware of it since 2013 (thus the year designation in its name). On April 15, there won’t be any risk at all when it passes Earth.
2013 NK4 completes a 378-day orbit around the sun. However, compared to our orbit, its is a little more elliptical. After circling Mars, its orbit plunges between Venus’s and Mercury’s orbits. With respect to Earth, the asteroid will pass our planet at a speed of 36,909 miles per hour (59,400 km per hour), or 10,02 miles per second (16,05 km per second).
To view the large asteroid, use a telescope.
It’s now easier than ever to observe an asteroid with “GoTo” or computerized telescopes. Through the telescope’s eyepiece or screen, the asteroid will appear as a slowly moving point of light in front of the background stars.
NASA is going to research NK4.
Astronomers will use the 230-foot (70-meter) DSS-14 Goldstone radar antenna in California to study the space rock from April 13–19, according to NASA/JPL. Also, on April 14, NASA’s 34-meter (112-foot) DSS-35 dish antenna will be used to observe this object from Canberra, Australia.
Scientists anticipate obtaining extremely detailed delay-Doppler images, which should reveal the shape of the asteroid and possibly help them determine its exact size.
In conclusion, on April 15, 2024, a sizable asteroid, 2013 NK4, measuring roughly 2,000 feet in diameter, will pass safely by Earth. It will be visible on April 16 and 17 through small telescopes.
