World News

Asteroid about the size of 2 football fields to make close approach to Earth in September

In a few weeks, skygazers will be able to see asteroid “2024 ON” as it swings by Earth at an astronomically close, but still safe distance, according to the Virtual Telescope Project.

Measuring at least 720 feet wide, or about the length of two football fields, the asteroid will be visible from the Northern Hemisphere.

The asteroid will zoom past Earth from just about 620,000 miles, or about 2.6 times the distance between Earth and the Moon, making its flyby from a close but safe distance.

A similar close approach happens on average one time every 10 years, the Virtual Telescope Project said.

Skygazers can watch its approach starting on Sept. 15 at 2:30 p.m. ET through the Virtual Telescope live feed online here.

Asteroids are pieces of rock left over after the solar system formed 4.6 billion years ago, NASA said.

Telescope image from NASA showcasing an asteroid close to Earth, featuring dark brown opaque dust and bright yellow ionized gas against a greenish-blue background with orange and orange-brown semi-transparent dust and light blue ionized gas against a dark blue background.
The asteroid will be “astronomically close” but still at a safe distance. nasa.gov