A 140-foot asteroid named 2024 PQ5 passed Earth on August 20, coming within 3.2 million miles of the planet, which is pretty close by astronomical standards, though still a safe distance. NASA monitored the object closely because any shift in its orbit could have posed a potential threat, but the asteroid passed without incident.
The asteroid, roughly the size of a small ship, belongs to the Apollo group, a class of near-Earth asteroids whose orbits cross Earth’s path around the Sun. Traveling at a speed of about 28,128 miles per hour, 2024 PQ5 was classified as a near-Earth object (NEO), meaning its trajectory brings it within 120 million miles of Earth.
NASA tracks thousands of NEOs using an array of telescopes and radar systems, including the Near-Earth Object Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (NEOWISE). These tools allow scientists to calculate asteroid paths years in advance and assess any potential risk to Earth.
Flybys like this are not unusual. NASA says small- to medium-sized asteroids frequently pass by Earth at varying distances, most of them harmless. In fact, at least five more asteroids are expected to make close approaches before the end of the month, though none pose a danger.
While 2024 PQ5’s flyby was uneventful, it underscores the importance of tracking near-Earth objects. Scientists continue to study asteroid movements as part of broader planetary defense efforts, which include projects like NASA’s DART mission that successfully tested deflecting an asteroid in 2022.