380-foot asteroid to speed past Earth today: NASA

The asteroid will pass within 2.4 million miles of Earth, a distance considered safe.

Though categorised as an Apollo-class asteroid due to its orbit intersecting Earth’s path, it doesn’t meet the criteria for being labeled a “Potentially Hazardous Asteroid.”

Asteroids are remnants of the early solar system and provide invaluable scientific information about the conditions that existed billions of years ago.

The majority of them reside in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. To date, scientists have identified over 1.3 million of these space rocks.

How does NASA track asteroids?

• Observatories like PAN-STARRS and NEOWISE collect data on asteroid positions.
• Radar initiatives like the Goldstone Solar System Radar Group complement these observations.
• These efforts help us understand potential threats and develop mitigation strategies, like the DART mission.

NASA maintains a constant vigil over Near-Earth Objects (NEOs) – asteroids or comets that can potentially pass close to Earth.

These celestial bodies are tracked by the Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS), which predicts their orbits and assesses potential impact risks.

To accomplish this, NASA employs a network of observatories, including PAN-STARRS, Catalina Sky Survey, NEOWISE, and the upcoming NEO Surveyor.

These facilities work in conjunction with radar systems like the Goldstone Solar System Radar Group to gather crucial data.

Beyond detection, NASA is also developing technologies to mitigate potential threats. The DART mission is a prime example of this proactive approach.