Asteroid Alert: NASA Monitors Three Large Space Rocks on Near-Earth Flybys

NASA has issued an alert about three large asteroids currently being tracked that will make close approaches to Earth. Among these, two massive asteroids are notable for their close flybys, though none pose a direct threat to our planet.

The first of these asteroids, (415029) 2011 UL21, which is approximately 7,600 feet long, passed by Earth on June 27, 2024, at a distance over four million miles away. Its large size and relatively close approach make it one of the largest near-Earth objects to come this close in recent times. The second asteroid, named 2024 MK, is smaller—between 400 to 850 feet long—and made its approach closer to Earth on June 29, 2024, at roughly three-fourths of the distance to the Moon.

Both asteroids presented no risk of impact but offered a unique opportunity for observation. The passage of 2024 MK, discovered only about two weeks prior to its closest approach, underscores the importance of enhancing our capability to detect and monitor potentially hazardous near-Earth objects. The European Space Agency and NASA are actively working to track these asteroids as part of planetary defense initiatives.

Although no known asteroids are currently on a collision course with Earth, these close encounters are reminders of the ongoing need to remain vigilant about potential asteroid threats. Planetary defense is an area of increasing focus, with future close calls, like the anticipated approach of the asteroid Apophis in 2029, further highlighting the need for robust monitoring and possible mitigation strategies​(Smithsonian Magazine).