Asteroid Near Earth: NASA Tracks Large Space Rock Headed Towards Earth

NASA has detected an asteroid named 2024 VC, categorised as "bus-sized," is travelling towards Earth. As per the Asteroid Tracking Systems of NASA, the asteroid is predicted to give the closest approach to the earth anytime today.

According to NASA, this 40-ft wide near-Earth object will zip past Earth at a whopping speed of 17,420 km/h, approximately 687,000 km away. Such short approaches to the earth call for close monitoring, and there is also research being done on such bodies of rock. So here’s what we have on this terrific flyby.

The solar system's rocky remnants, like asteroid 2024 VC, hold the key to understanding our cosmic evolution. This small but closely monitored asteroid offers a glimpse into the history of our celestial neighbourhood."

NASA Asteroid Alert! The 2024 VC asteroid, which will be flying near Earth, presents a low threat level as it is relatively small and poses a very low impact risk. For an asteroid to be listed as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA), it should be more than 492 feet and come within a 4.65 million-mile radius of the earth. 2024 VC does not meet these criteria; therefore, even at a closer range, it is not regarded as a serious threat.