Exciting news for space enthusiasts! An asteroid named 2024 MK is set to make a close approach to Earth this weekend, but no worries—it poses no danger.
Discovered just two weeks ago by a South African observatory, 2024 MK measures between 120 and 260 meters in diameter. On Saturday morning, it will zip by at a distance that's roughly three-quarters of the distance to the moon.
According to Davide Farnocchia, an asteroid expert at NASA's Center for Near-Earth Object Studies, smaller asteroids like 2024 MK pass by Earth quite frequently. In fact, asteroids of a similar size make close approaches approximately every 25 years.
Just recently, a much larger asteroid measuring 2,310 meters also safely passed our planet, though it was only visible through professional telescopes. With the right equipment and a bit of luck, you might just catch a glimpse of 2024 MK during its near-Earth encounter.
If you're in the U.S., consider waiting until Saturday night to watch. The asteroid will be less luminous but more visible without the sun's glare competing for your attention.
And mark your calendars for April 13, 2029, when another asteroid named Apophis is expected to pass close to Earth. During this event, Apophis should be visible to the naked eye from parts of Europe, Africa, and Asia. Don’t miss out on these celestial showings!
Reference(s):
cgtn.com