Space enthusiasts can now witness an astonishing series of asteroids passing over their heads, starting from today, January 29, 2024. There are five asteroids as large as a “FIFA-accredited stadium” passing by the Earth soon. As per reports, the largest asteroid, Asteroid 2008 OS7, is expected to pass on February 2, 2024, at a distance of 1.77 million miles.

ASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) is monitoring five upcoming asteroid approaches, with Asteroid OS7 being one of them. Japan’s space agency recently achieved a successful pinpoint landing on the moon during its lunar mission, despite the probe appearing upside-down. The approaching asteroids include 2024 AU4, 2007 EG, 2024 BY, and 2003 BM4, each at varying distances.

NASA assures that while most near-Earth objects pose no risk, potentially hazardous asteroids (PHAs), like Apophis, are closely monitored due to their size and proximity.

Asteroids this week:

This week’s asteroid encounters include:

  • 2024 AU4, measuring about 260 feet wide, passed at a safe distance of 3.92 million miles on Sunday, January 28.
  • On Tuesday, the airplane-sized asteroid 2007 EG will come slightly closer, at 3.8 million miles.
  • Thursday will witness the visits of two more asteroids – 2024 BY, similar in size to a house, passing at 1.57 million miles, and 2003 BM4, also airplane-sized, flying by at 2.06 million miles.

In comparison, the average distance to the moon is 239,000 miles, and the Earth-sun distance is 93 million miles, according to NASA.

NASA emphasizes that most near-Earth objects (NEOs) pose no threat, but potentially hazardous asteroids (PHAs) require attention. PHAs, asteroids or comets larger than 500 feet coming within 4.7 million miles of Earth, are closely monitored.

Notably, Apophis, nicknamed the ‘God of Chaos’ asteroid, is a significant PHA measuring about 370 yards across. NASA’s OSIRIS-APEX mission, launched in December, aims to study Apophis, set to pass by Earth at an unprecedentedly close distance of 20,000 miles in 2029, marking a historic event since the dawn of record history.