Five Asteroids Approach Earth in Early December
Earlier this month, NASA’s Asteroid Watch, a program within the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) dedicated to tracking Near Earth Objects (NEOs), reported that five asteroids were approaching our planet. Two asteroids made their closest approach on December 2nd, another two on December 3rd, and the final asteroid on December 4th. While varied in size, all five asteroids are considerably larger than the average human.
Notable Asteroids
Among these celestial visitors were 2024 WN4, measuring 15 meters in diameter, roughly the size of a house, and 2021 XZ, with an 8-meter diameter, comparable to a bus. When first detected by Asteroid Watch, 2024 WN4 was located 1.7 million kilometers from Earth. 2021 XZ was recorded at a distance of 5 kilometers from Earth when announced on the JPL dashboard.
On December 3rd, two more asteroids caught the attention of astronomers: 2024 WL6 and 447755 (2007 JX2). These asteroids were notably larger than their predecessors. 2024 WL6 measures 18 meters, again roughly the size of a house, while 2007 JX2 is a gargantuan 396 meters in diameter, equivalent to the size of a stadium.
Safe Passage of 2007 JX2
Despite its imposing size, 2007 JX2 safely passed Earth at approximately 5:16 am WIB on December 3rd. Traveling at an impressive speed of 44,001 kilometers per hour, this asteroid is considered “close” in astronomical terms. Although its proximity to Earth sparked some curiosity, astronomers emphasize that it’s not as close as it might appear to the naked eye.
2007 JX2’s distance from Earth is more than 14 times the distance between Earth and the Moon. In other words, while a significant celestial object, it maintains a safe distance from our planet. The size of 2007 JX2 even surpasses that of the asteroid, designated 2020 XR, which is also due to pass Earth on December 4th.
2020 XR, another stadium-sized asteroid, is approximately 366 meters in diameter. According to NASA, 2020 XR does not pose a threat, and will make a safe passage by Earth. The agency reassures the public that neither asteroid will enter the Earth’s atmosphere or impact the surface.
What types of programs and initiatives exist to track and monitor these celestial objects, and what is their importance?
## Humanity Briefly Buzzed by a Batch of Space Rocks
**Host:** Joining us today is Dr. Amelia Stone, a leading astronomer from the SETI Institute, to discuss the recent flurry of asteroid activity near Earth. Dr. Stone, welcome to the show!
**Dr. Stone:** Thank you for having me!
**Host:** As reported by NASA’s Asteroid Watch program [1](https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/asteroid-watch/next-five-approaches/), we’ve had five asteroids making close approaches to Earth in early December. Could you tell our viewers a little about these celestial visitors?
**Dr. Stone:** Certainly! We’ve had a bit of a cosmic traffic jam near our planet this month. Five asteroids of varying sizes have made relatively close approaches to Earth.
Thankfully, none posed any threat of collision.
These asteroids ranged in size from about the size of a bus to the size of a stadium. While those numbers might seem large, in astronomical terms, these are still considered relatively small asteroids.
**Host:** You mentioned some notable asteroids. Care to give us some specific examples?
**Dr. Stone:** Absolutely. One interesting asteroid was 2024 WN4, which measured about 15 meters in diameter, roughly the size of a house.
It was detected by Asteroid Watch 1.7 million kilometers from Earth. We also had 2007 JX2, a much larger asteroid with a diameter of 396 meters – think of a minor league baseball stadium!
This one caused a bit of a stir due to its size, but rest assured, it safely passed by our planet.
**Host:** So, these close approaches are a cause for continued observation, but not alarm?
**Dr. Stone:** Precisely. These encounters highlight the importance of programs like NASA’s Asteroid Watch [1](https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/asteroid-watch/next-five-approaches/).
They allow us to track and monitor these objects, ensuring we are aware of any potential threats to Earth. This constant vigilance is crucial for planetary defense.
**Host:** Dr. Stone, thank you so much for shedding light on this fascinating celestial event!
**Dr. Stone:** My pleasure. It’s always exciting to discuss these cosmic neighbours.
