Current:Home > FinanceThis Valentine's Day, love is in the air and a skyscraper-sized asteroid is whizzing past Earth -VisionFunds
This Valentine's Day, love is in the air and a skyscraper-sized asteroid is whizzing past Earth
View
Date:2025-04-12 13:13:52
It's Valentine's Day, meaning love is in the atmosphere and a giant space rock is expected to pass by just outside of it. Well, maybe not that close, but still pretty close – 4.6 million kilometers or roughly 2.86 million miles – to be more precise.
The asteroid, named 2024 BR4 by NASA's Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS), is loosely estimated to measure between 140 and 300 meters, or 459 and 984 feet in diameter, which is taller than most skyscrapers. Due to its size, it has been deemed "potentially hazardous" by NASA.
Here's what to know about the celestial event.
We're not the only ones with an eclipse:Mars rover captures moon whizzing by sun's outline
When will asteroid 2024 BR4 pass by Earth?
Asteroid 2024 BR4 will pass by Earth on Feb. 14, 2024, around 11:00 UTC.
What is asteroid 2024 BR4?
See a video:NASA tracked a stadium-size asteroid that passed by Earth but was not a threat
The asteroid was first observed during the automatic Catalina Sky Survey in January and was soon after determined to be about 12 million kilometers, or 7.5 million miles, from Earth. It has since approached Earth steadily but is not expected to pass any closer than 4.6 million kilometers, which is still relatively close: a little less than twelve times the distance between the Earth and the Moon.
2024 BR4 is believed to be part of a group of asteroids called Apollo, which has an orbit that sometimes overlaps with Earth's. Despite the group's closeness to our planet, scientists don't anticipate any significant impact threat for a few centuries.
Should we be worried about the asteroid?
While the object is traveling through space at about 9.86 kilometers per second, NASA has assured there is no threat of collision. With a tracking system that has recorded 33,000 near-Earth objects, the organization keeps close tabs on all observable space bodies that get a little too close.
This Valentine's Day is the closest this specific space object will get to Earth for the next 120 years, meaning we can rest assured that this asteroid, at least, isn't out to get us anytime soon.
veryGood! (3)
Related
- 'We're reborn!' Gazans express joy at returning home to north
- Tigers ready to 'fight and claw' against Guardians in decisive Game 5 of ALDS
- Love Is Blind's Monica Details How She Found Stephen's Really Kinky Texts to Another Woman
- Wholesale inflation remained cool last month in latest sign that price pressures are slowing
- Mets have visions of grandeur, and a dynasty, with Juan Soto as major catalyst
- Residents clean up and figure out what’s next after Milton
- Melinda French Gates makes $250 million available for groups supporting women's health
- Courtney Williams’ go-to guard play gives Lynx key 3-pointers in Game 1 win
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Hi Hi!
- Andy Cohen Reacts to NYE Demands After Anderson Cooper Gets Hit by Hurricane Milton Debris
Ranking
- Rolling Loud 2024: Lineup, how to stream the world's largest hip hop music festival
- EPA Settles Some Alabama Coal Ash Violations, but Larger Questions Linger
- Florida power outage map: 2.2 million in the dark as Milton enters Atlantic
- Judge blocks Penn State board from voting to remove a trustee who has sought financial records
- Tarte Shape Tape Concealer Sells Once Every 4 Seconds: Get 50% Off Before It's Gone
- Fall in Love With These Under $100 Designer Michael Kors Handbags With an Extra 20% off Luxury Styles
- How Cardi B Is Building Her Best Life After Breakup
- Andy Cohen Reacts to NYE Demands After Anderson Cooper Gets Hit by Hurricane Milton Debris
Recommendation
Brianna LaPaglia Reveals The Meaning Behind Her "Chickenfry" Nickname
A Mississippi officer used excessive force against a man he arrested, prosecutors say
Minnesota coach Cheryl Reeve needed Lynx to 'be gritty at the end.' They delivered.
Shelter-in-place ordered for 2 east Texas cities after chemical release kills 1 person
This was the average Social Security benefit in 2004, and here's what it is now
Martha Stewart Says Prosecutors Should Be Put in a Cuisinart Over Felony Conviction
Why Milton’s ‘reverse surge’ sucked water away from flood-fearing Tampa
In Pacific Northwest, 2 toss-up US House races could determine control of narrowly divided Congress