NASA reveals 120-foot asteroid, as big as a plane, will approach Earth on this day at a massive speed of...

NASA is closely monitoring a 120-foot (37-metre) wide asteroid named 2024 ME1, which will make a close approach to Earth on July 10, 2024. This massive sized asteroid is racing through space at a speed of 30,215 kilometres per hour.

The asteroid will pass by Earth at 14:51 (8:21 PM IST) on July 10. Despite its high speed, 2024 ME1 will safely skim by at a distance of 4.3 million kilometres. This is about 11 times the distance between the Earth and the Moon, ensuring there is no risk of a collision.

2024 ME1 belongs to a group of asteroids known as Amor asteroids. These asteroids have orbits that bring them close to Earth but do not cross our planet’s orbit. NASA and other space agencies continuously monitor these space rocks to identify any potential threats well in advance. This careful tracking allows scientists to predict and follow their paths with great accuracy.

Asteroids like 2024 ME1 are remnants from the early solar system. Although 2024 ME1 poses no threat to Earth, its flyby provides scientists with a unique chance to study its characteristics and behaviour, enhancing our understanding of these celestial objects.