NASA announces that an asteroid traveling at 104,761 km/h will hit Earth today. What you need to know

An asteroid designated 2024 RN16 will approach Earth today, September 14, 2024, at 08:46 UTC (2:16 p.m. IST). This 110-foot-wide, 65,000-mph space chunk will come within 1 million kilometers of Earth.

2024 RN16 belongs to a group of near-Earth objects called Apollo asteroids. These asteroids have orbits that cross Earth's orbit around the Sun, allowing close approaches. They are named after the first asteroid discovered in this group, 1862 Apollo. NASA monitors Apollo asteroids because of their potential to cross Earth's orbit.

If an asteroid the size of 2024 RN16 were to hit Earth, the impact would be extremely destructive. It is estimated that if the asteroid entered Earth's atmosphere, it would explode 29 kilometers above the ground, releasing energy equivalent to 16 megatons of TNT. This explosion would cause a significant shock wave, but would not cause a direct impact with the ground. Such an event is expected every 990 years. Fortunately, 2024 RN16 will fly safely past Earth without causing any damage.

NASA's Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) monitors asteroids and comets to assess their impact risk. Data from observatories and amateur astronomers around the world help track the trajectories of these objects. The Minor Planet Center collects this information, while programs such as Pan-STARRS and NEOWISE provide detailed observations. Planetary radar systems such as the Goldstone Solar System Radar help determine asteroid trajectories more precisely.

“Thanks to NASA's careful monitoring, Earth remains protected from the dangers of space rocks like 2024 RN16,” a NASA spokesman said.

ISRO warns of asteroid Apophis: Possible threat to Earth in 2029

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is also closely monitoring the asteroid Apophis, which is scheduled to make a very close approach to Earth on April 13, 2029. Named after the Egyptian god of chaos, Apophis is larger than India's aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya and the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. ISRO's newly added Planetary Defence range is tasked with protecting Earth from extraterrestrial threats. In a recent interview with NDTV, ISRO Chairman Dr S Somanath stated, “A large asteroid impact is a real existential threat to humanity. ISRO is very conscious of this threat and our Network for Space Objects Tracking and Analysis (NETRA) is monitoring Apophis very closely. After all, we have only one Earth to live on. India will work with all nations to ward off this and other such future threats.” Apophis was discovered in 2004 and is tracked due to its periodic approaches to Earth. When it approaches Earth in 2029, it will come within 32,000 kilometers of Earth, closer than many geostationary satellites. While some studies suggest it will not hit Earth, its proximity is a cause for concern.

Previous asteroid impacts, such as the meteorite that hit Lonar in Maharashtra 500,000 years ago, illustrate the potential dangers. A crater lake now marks the Lonar impact site. “ISRO will certainly study the asteroid Apophis at its closest approach in 2029,” added Dr Somanath.

International space agencies are planning missions to study and possibly redirect Apophis. NASA's OSIRIS-REx, which brought back samples from another asteroid, will now be redirected to Apophis. The European Space Agency is also considering launching the Rapid Apophis Mission for Security and Safety (RAMSES) in 2028, possibly with Indian participation.