A few months ago, an asteroid created a whole buzz. At one point, the 2024 year old asteroid had a 3.1% chance of hitting the earth, creating many titles on its potential impact. The threat is almost disappeared, but we now have photos of the asteroid formerly sleepy.
NASA James Webb Spatial Telescope has captured images of the asteroid with two cameras, including the almost infrared camera and the average infrared instrument. The first measurements reflect light, while the second shows thermal energy. The images were displayed by the European space agency last week. The images show some funny facts on the asteroid: it is the smallest object targeted by JWST instruments to date, and it is one of the smallest objects ever measured directly.
The estimates initially put the asteroid between 40 and 90 meters. The actual size turned out to be 60 meters or around 180 feet. “These measures indicate that this asteroid does not share the properties observed in larger asteroids,” said the European space agency in its post. “It is probably a combination of its rapid rotation and the lack of fine grain sand on its surface. Additional research is necessary, however, this is considered coherent with a surface dominated by rocks which are roughly the size of the fist or more.”
According to NASA, the asteroid will only be visible from the earth a little longer. It orbit now withdraws it from the land, and the agency believes that it will even disappear from the strongest telescope instruments at the end of April or early May. NASA said the asteroid will not be visible until 2028, when its orbit will bring it back to the earth.
The asteroid can hit the moon
The 2024 year old asteroid reported for the first time Via the minor Planet Center in December 2024. On the basis of the data collected on its trajectory at that time, the asteroid was 1.3% chance of hitting the earth.
The percentage has fluctuated in the coming months, reaching 3.1%. After additional research, the chances have dropped spectacular at 0.28%. According to NASA Sentry toolWho monitors asteroids that can have an impact on earth, the threat is now 0.00078%.
The moon may not be as lucky. By NASA, the dimensions Asteroid impacting the moon is around 3.8%, which is even higher than the asteroid has never had an impact on the earth. Scientists collect data before the asteroid disappears, but it is likely that we would not know more so that the asteroid returns in view in 2028.
