Radar photographs captured by NASA’s Goldstone Solar System Radar in California revealed the asteroid’s distinctive construction. The asteroid, roughly 1,150 ft (350 meters) lengthy, consists of two distinct lobes, with one lobe being about 50% bigger than the opposite. This uncommon form, resembling a snowman, is named a “contact binary” — a phenomenon that happens when two smaller asteroids merge as a result of gravitational forces.
A High-Speed Journey
Asteroid 2024 ON travelled at a staggering velocity of 19,842 mph (31,933 kph) because it handed Earth, about 26 occasions the velocity of sound. Despite its measurement and velocity, the asteroid posed no danger to our planet, passing over 2.5 occasions the gap between Earth and the moon.
Although labeled as doubtlessly hazardous, current measurements have allowed scientists to foretell the asteroid’s future trajectory with excessive accuracy. As a outcome, 2024 ON isn’t anticipated to pose any hazard to Earth for a lot of many years, providing reassurance regardless of its hazardous label.
The Prevalence of Contact Binary Asteroids
Asteroids like 2024 ON, often known as contact binaries, make up an estimated 14% of near-Earth asteroids bigger than 660 ft (200 meters). One of essentially the most well-known contact binaries is Selam, a small moonlet orbiting the asteroid Dinkinesh. Such asteroids present invaluable insights into the formation and evolution of celestial our bodies inside our photo voltaic system.
As area businesses proceed to observe near-Earth objects, radar and different monitoring applied sciences enable for higher predictions and understandings of their behaviour. In truth, 2024 has seen greater than 60 asteroids move between Earth and the moon, due to elevated observational efforts utilizing AI-powered algorithms.
While asteroid 2024 ON’s current go to sparked curiosity as a result of its snowman-like look, it serves as a reminder of the significance of ongoing asteroid monitoring. Fortunately, with no speedy menace, we will respect the cosmic magnificence and scientific insights it gives with out fear for Earth’s security.
