NASA ALERT! Four Huge Asteroids Racing Towards Earth At Alarming Speeds: Should You Worry?

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NASA has issued an alert for four asteroids, hurtling towards Earth today. (Representational Image)

NASA has sounded the alarm about not one, not two, but four asteroids hurtling towards our beloved blue planet, Earth. While the thought might send shivers down your spine, let's break down the details and see if there's cause for concern. All four asteroids today belong to the Apollo group, known for their orbits that occasionally cross Earth's path. Here's a closer look at each asteroid.

First up, we have Asteroid 2024 JF. This space rock, part of the Apollo group, measures a relatively modest 26 feet in size. It's zooming through space at a mind-boggling speed of 42,081 kilometres per hour. On May 6 at 21:58 UTC, it'll be making its closest approach to Earth, coming within 475,443 kilometres of our planet.

Next in line is Asteroid 2024 HE2. Slightly larger at 78 feet, this Apollo group member is picking up speed, clocking in at 43,472 kilometres per hour. It's scheduled to swing by on today, May 6th, at 20:16 UTC, but this one will be a bit far, zooming past at a distance of 1.2 million kilometres.

Following closely behind is Asteroid 2024 HL2. With a size of 84 feet, it's not the biggest of the bunch, but its speed of 48,247 kilometres per hour means it's moving pretty swiftly. Keep an eye out on May 6th at 08:12, when it'll come within 2.9 million kilometres of Earth.

Last but certainly not least, we have Asteroid 2024 HM2. This hefty rock measures a massive 171 feet in diameter and is blazing through space at a whopping 90,056 kilometres per hour. However, you can breathe a sigh of relief as it'll be passing by at a safe distance of 6.6 million kilometres today (May 6) at 14:49.

Now, before you start building your underground bunkers, let's put things into perspective. While the sizes and speeds of these asteroids might sound intimidating, their closest approaches are still quite distant from Earth. In fact, the closest any of them will get is 475,443 kilometres away - that's more than the distance to the Moon!

It's important to remember that NASA closely monitors near-Earth objects like these. The Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) keeps a watchful eye on all known asteroids, assessing any potential impact risks they may pose. By utilising data from observatories around the world, including amateur contributions and NASA-funded projects, scientists can track these celestial wanderers and predict their trajectories with precision.

So, should you worry? In this case, there's no need to panic. While it's fascinating to observe these cosmic visitors, they pose no imminent threat to Earth. Thanks to the vigilant efforts of organisations like NASA, we can rest assured that our planet is well-protected from any interstellar surprises.