Current:Home > ScamsThis Valentine's Day, love is in the air and a skyscraper-sized asteroid is whizzing past Earth -MoneySpot
This Valentine's Day, love is in the air and a skyscraper-sized asteroid is whizzing past Earth
View
Date:2025-04-16 13:28:00
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! (9447)
Related
- What do we know about the mysterious drones reported flying over New Jersey?
- Her son ended his life with a gun. Driven to her knees, she found hope.
- Indiana police investigate shooting that left 3 people dead
- Chiefs vs. Dolphins highlights: Catch up on the big moments from KC's win in Germany
- EU countries double down on a halt to Syrian asylum claims but will not yet send people back
- A nonbinary marathoner's fight to change anti-doping policy
- Drew Barrymore gets surprise proposal from comedian Pauly Shore on talk show
- Prince William arrives in Singapore for annual Earthshot Prize award, the first to be held in Asia
- North Carolina justices rule for restaurants in COVID
- Offshore wind projects face economic storm. Cancellations jeopardize Biden clean energy goals
Ranking
- Are Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp down? Meta says most issues resolved after outages
- No. 6 Texas survives Kansas State with goal-line stand in overtime to stay in Big 12 lead
- Winter is coming. Here's how to spot — and treat — signs of seasonal depression
- U.S. regulators will review car-tire chemical that kills salmon, upon request from West Coast tribes
- Pregnant Kylie Kelce Shares Hilarious Question Her Daughter Asked Jason Kelce Amid Rising Fame
- How real estate brokerage ruling could impact home buyers and sellers
- Fatal vehicle crash kills 4 in Maryland
- Supporters celebrate opening of Gay Games in Hong Kong, first in Asia, despite lawmakers’ opposition
Recommendation
McKinsey to pay $650 million after advising opioid maker on how to 'turbocharge' sales
Minneapolis police investigating another fire at a mosque
Jalen Milroe stiff-arms Jayden Daniels' Heisman Trophy bid as No. 8 Alabama rolls past LSU
Record-setting A.J. Brown is colossal problem Cowboys must solve to beat Eagles
Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Hi Hi!
Highly pathogenic avian flu detected at Alabama chicken farm, nearly 48K birds killed
Maine considers electrifying proposal that would give the boot to corporate electric utilities
Taylor Swift's Night Out With Selena Gomez, Sophie Turner, Brittany Mahomes and More Hits Different