The Goldstone Solar System Radar , part of NASA ’s Deep Space connection , made these observations of the lately detect 500 - foot - all-embracing ( 150 - time - wide ) asteroid 2024 MK , which made its closest approach — within about 184,000 miles ( 295,000 kilometer ) of Earth — on June 29.NASA / JPL - Caltech
The last week saw not one but two asteroid lash by Earth at close distance — not so confining as to threaten the satellite , but close down enough for scientists to get a unspoilt view of them . Asteroid hunters trail the pair as they passed by , and they were even imaged by NASA instruments to learn more about asteroids , let in those thatcould potentially menace Earthin the futurity .
asteroid 2024 MK and 2011 UL21 , named for their various long time of breakthrough , made close approach to Earth on June 27 and June 29 . Asteroid 2011 UL21 came within 4.1 million international mile of the planet , and was virtually a international nautical mile wide — large and close enough to classify it as a potentially hazardous target . However , using data about its area , astronomers have work the numbers and determined there ’s no chance of it impacting the Earth any fourth dimension soon .
The Goldstone Solar System Radar, part of NASA’s Deep Space Network, made these observations of the recently discovered 500-foot-wide (150-meter-wide) asteroid 2024 MK, which made its closest approach — within about 184,000 miles (295,000 kilometers) of Earth — on June 29.NASA/JPL-Caltech
While the asteroid was passing by , it was being observed by stargazer . NASA scientists used one of the radiolocation of its Deep Space connection ( the connection NASA uses to pass on with its spacecraft in recondite space ) to bounce radio wave off the asteroid and read it . They found that it is actually part of a duo called a binary system , with a tiny moonlet orbiting it at a distance of around 2 miles .
“ It is thought that about two - thirds of asteroids of this size are binary scheme , and their discovery is particularly of import because we can apply measure of their relative positions to reckon their mutual orbits , masses , and concentration , which provide fundamental information about how they may have formed,”saidLance Benner , master scientist at NASA ’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory who helped lead the observations .
The second asteroid that passed by came even closer , at 184,000 nautical mile from the planet , which is confining that the moon is . It was smaller , at around 500 feet across , and was a long and angular shape . research worker used a standardised method acting of bouncing radio wave off the asteroid to observe its jagged , complex surface . They were able to get aclose - up viewof the aim , which is rare as it come so close .
“ This was an extraordinary chance to investigate the strong-arm properties and obtain detailed images of a near - ground asteroid , ” Benner said .
