Not one, but two large asteroids, zoomed past Earth in a rare double flyby. Thankfully, neither
By studying these images, researchers can learn more about the makeup of these space rocks, which is crucial for planning how to deal with any future asteroids that might be a little too enthusiastic about visiting our planet.
Our solar system is vast and mostly empty, but every now and then, an
That's because even if their current path is safe, a future bump with another space object could send them on a collision course with Earth. It's unlikely, but hey, better safe than sorry!
Luckily for us, both 2024 MK and 2011 UL21 came in peace and were more than happy to be papped. 2011 UL21 cruised by on June 27th at a comfortable distance of 17 times the Earth-Moon distance. Then, just two days later, 2024 MK made its appearance, getting a bit closer at about three-quarters of the Earth-Moon distance.
Related: 2 'potentially hazardous' asteroids will streak by Earth this week, one as big as a mountain
Capturing clear images of these celestial visitors is no easy feat. Even though they're considered "large" asteroids, they're still relatively small and faint in the grand scheme of space.
That's where NASA's awesome radar telescope comes in. It beams radio waves out into space, and by analysing the bounced-back signal, scientists can create detailed images.
Since 2024 MK buzzed by much closer (these close encounters only happen every few decades or so), we were able to get a much more detailed look. The images revealed a 500-foot-long, elongated asteroid with a bumpy, ridged surface. It even tumbles as it travels through space!
This rock was only discovered on June 16, and Earth's gravity actually nudged its orbit a bit. Studying these observations will help scientists predict 2024 MK's future path, and good news – it looks like it'll stay safely out of our way for the foreseeable future.
Astronomer Lance Benner of NASA's
This isn't the first time we've spotted a miniature moon companion with a large asteroid. In fact, it seems to be happening more and more often as our observation technology improves. This is fantastic news for both planetary defence and understanding how our solar system formed.
"It is thought that about two-thirds of asteroids of this size are binary systems," Benner explains, "and their discovery is particularly important because we can use measurements of their relative positions to estimate their mutual orbits, masses, and densities, which provide key information about how they may have formed."
Also Read: NASA simulated an incoming asteroid impact, and the biggest roadblock to action was penny pinching