Small asteroid to zoom past Earth on Thursday; no chance of impact

A small asteroid named 2024 GJ2 is set to make an extremely close flyby of Earth on Thursday, April 11, the European Space Agency's near-Earth objects (NEO) Coordination Centre said.

Discovered just days ago by the vigilant eyes of the Pan-STARRS 2 telescope in Hawaii, USA, this near-Earth asteroid is around 3 metres in size. During this close approach, the asteroid will pass just 12,320 km from Earth's surface at 18:31 UTC (20:31 CEST), over Australia, travelling at 14.4 km/s. For perspective, it's merely 3% of the distance between the Earth and the Moon.

Despite this close encounter with Earth, asteroid 2024 GJ2 has no chance of impact. It will pass well within the orbit of satellites in the geostationary ring. At this distance, Earth's mighty gravity will significantly alter the asteroid's orbit around the Sun, ESA's NEO Coordination Centre said.

☄️A small asteroid will make an extremely close flyby today!2024 GJ2 is around 3 metres in size and was discovered on Tuesday by the Pan-STARRS 2 telescope in Hawaii, USA.It will pass just 12 320 km from Earth's surface on 11 April, at 18:31 UTC (20:31 CEST), over Australia,… pic.twitter.com/i9cyfxoJpW

— ESA Operations (@esaoperations) April 11, 2024