While giant space rocks hurtling through space may sound like a plot twist in science fiction, NASA routinely tracks near-Earth objects (NEOs) to ensure that it does not pose a collision threat. One such recent example is asteroid NF 2024, a roughly 220-foot (67-meter) behemoth classified within the Apollo group of near-Earth asteroids.Detected by astronomers, NF 2024 was on a trajectory that brought it close to our planet. Thankfully, meticulous observations by NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) indicated a safe passage. The closest approach occurred on July 17th, 2024, at a reassuring distance of approximately 3 million miles (4.8 million kilometers) from Earth. This huge distance makes human lives safer. Classifying Near-Earth ThreatsAsteroids come in all shapes and sizes, and NASA has a well-defined classification system for those venturing near our cosmic neighborhood. The designation potentially hazardous asteroid (PHA) is reserved for objects exceeding 150 meters (492 feet) in diameter and with a projected path bringing them closer than 4.6 million miles (7.4 million kilometers) to Earth. For our relief, NF 2024 falls well short of both size and proximity thresholds, giving some security that its non-threatening status.A Flurry of Activity: Multiple Asteroids Make Close ApproachesWhile NF 2024 captured attention due to its impressive size, it wasnt the only space rock gracing us with a visit in July 2024. NASA reported four other asteroids - BY15, NJ3, and MG1 - also making close approaches during that period. All four are significantly smaller than NF 2024 and maintained safe distances ranging from 2.64 million miles to 3.85 million miles (4.25 million kilometers to 6.2 million kilometers) from Earth.Protecting Our Planet from Asteroid ImpactsThe possibility of a future asteroid impact, though statistically improbable, serves as a constant reminder of the importance of planetary defense. NASA is actively engaged in numerous initiatives to safeguard Earth from such life-ending threats. One such program is the Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission. Launched in November 2021, DART is a groundbreaking mission designed to test the effectiveness of a kinetic impactor – essentially a spacecraft deliberately crashing into an asteroid – in deflecting its trajectory. The success of DART will provide valuable data for developing future strategies to mitigate the risk of asteroid collisions.
