The giant space rock 2024 XN1, also known as the ‘Christmas Eve asteroid’ and shaped like an airplane, will fly past Earth on December 24 at a speed of 14,743 mph, the NASA Asteroid Watch dashboard has confirmed. The asteroid will reach its closest at 02:56 am GMT on December 24. Measuring between 95 and 230 feet in diameter, scientists estimate the asteroid possesses a potentially destructive force equivalent to 12 million tons of TNT.
Asteroid 2024 XN1 is the largest of the next five asteroids that will approach Earth. The massive space rock, about 120 feet in diameter, is being closely monitored by NASA’s Asteroid Watch dashboard, which tracks asteroids and comets that pass relatively close to our planet.
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Although it is classified as a “near miss” in astronomical terms, experts assure that there is no risk of a collision. The asteroid is expected to pass safely by Earth at a distance of about 4.48 million miles (7.21 million kilometers) – about 18 times the distance between Earth and the Moon.
The asteroid was first discovered on December 12 by NASA and the European Space Agency’s Planetary Defense Systems. After noting its orbit, they named it close approach, meaning it passed within 4.65 million miles or 7.5 million kilometers. Although the asteroid poses no threat, its flyby is an example of the importance of ongoing efforts to observe near-Earth objects.
The Asteroid Watch dashboard provides details about each object’s closest approach, including date, size, and distance from Earth. By hovering over each asteroid’s encounter date, users can see more information about its size and proximity to Earth.
While 2024 XN1 is the largest of the incoming asteroids, scientists assure that none of these objects pose any threat to Earth. The dashboard helps keep the public informed and highlights the importance of monitoring space rocks for potential future risks.
