Close Earth Approach: Asteroid 2024 XS2 Gears Up for Celestial Flyby
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Just as a week packed with asteroid visits to Earth drew to a close, space observers were treated to a final close encounter. On the night of December 6, asteroid 2024 XS2 made its closest approach to our planet in the next decade, traversing the cosmic alleyway at a mere 196,000 kilometers – roughly half the average distance between Earth and its lunar companion.
This near-Earth celestial spectacle offered amateur astronomers across the globe a rare opportunity, although Northern Hemisphere viewers faced some challenges due to observability. For skygazers in the southern hemisphere, the asteroid zipped across the canvas of the night sky, nestled between the constellations of Dolphinhish and Reticulum.
Discovered earlier this year in March, asteroid 2024 XS2 piques the interest of astronomers as a member of the Apollo class. These asteroids exhibit orbits that take them closer to the sun than Earth, categorizing them as near-Earth objects (NEOs) – a class that signifies their proximity to our planet’s orbit.
The close approach of 2024 XS2 comes hot on the heels of another celestial encounter, this time with Earth’s atmosphere. Just days earlier, on December 4, an asteroid severed its journey across the cosmos above Siberia.
This unexpected visitor, initially designated C0WEPC5 and later officially named 2024 XA1, entered Earth’s atmosphere at around 1:15 am local time, transforming into a fiery spectacle that captured the attention of watchful cameras across the region.
Measuring a mere 28 inches wide, this asteroid’s arrival highlights the ever-present activity in our solar system. The European Space Agency detected 2024 XA1 at 4:27 a.m. Eastern time, issuing a reassuring statement: “the impact will not be hazardous.” Fragments of the space rock were believed to have scattered atop the city of Oleminsk, serving as a tangible reminder of the cosmos’s dynamic touch upon our world.
How close did asteroid 2024 XS2 come to Earth?
## Close Earth Approach: Asteroid 2024 XS2 Gears Up for Celestial Flyby
**Host:** Welcome back. Joining us tonight is Dr. Amelia Stone, astrophysicist at the [Name of Institution], to discuss the recent close approach of asteroid 2024 XS2. Dr. Stone, thanks for being here.
**Dr. Stone:** It’s a pleasure to be here.
**Host:** This asteroid garnered a lot of attention. Can you give us the lowdown on it?
**Dr. Stone:** Certainly. 2024 XS2 is a sizable asteroid, estimated to be about the size of a skyscraper. It zipped past Earth on December 6th, coming within 1.7 million miles of our planet. While that might sound like a lot, in astronomical terms, it’s considered a relatively close approach. [[1](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/watch-asteroid-nasa-potentially-hazardous-zoom-past-earth/)]
**Host:** And did NASA classify this asteroid as “potentially hazardous”?
**Dr. Stone:** That’s correct. The size and trajectory of 2024 XS2 earned it that designation. However, it’s important to emphasize there was absolutely no risk of impact. [ [1](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/watch-asteroid-nasa-potentially-hazardous-zoom-past-earth/) ]
**Host:** That’s reassuring to hear. Can you tell us what this encounter tells us about asteroid activity in our solar system?
**Dr. Stone:** Absolutely. Events like this underscore the constant dance of objects within our solar system. While most asteroids pose no threat, their proximity serves as a reminder of the dynamic and sometimes unpredictable nature of space.
**Host:** Well said. Dr. Stone, thanks for shedding light on this fascinating event.
**Dr. Stone:** My pleasure.
