Two asteroids, one as big as a bus, coming near Earth today

Asteroid named 2023 VS belonging to Apollo group will make its closest approach to Earth, flying by a distance within 228,000 miles from Earth, NASA said. (Image courtesy: NASA)

Two asteroids will pass close to Earth on November 7, according to Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), a research and development centre affiliated with the US space agency NASA. JPL's research shows one asteroid is about the size of a car, while the other one is as large as a bus.

The first asteroid, named 2023 VS and categorized within the Apollo group of asteroids, will make its closest approach to Earth, flying by a distance within 228,000 miles (368,000 km) from Earth, NASA said. Measuring approximately 12 feet (or 4 meters) in size, this car-sized asteroid was first discovered in 2023.

The second asteroid, designated as 2023 VE which is also part of the Apollo group, is around the size of a bus, measuring approximately 35 feet (11 meters). Discovered this year, the 2023 VE asteroid will fly within 734,000 miles (1,180,000 km) from Earth.

NASA's 'Asteroid Watch' tracks close approaches

NASA's Asteroid Watch dashboard tracks asteroids and comets, displays essential information such as the date of closest approach, approximate object diameter, relative size, and distance from Earth for each encounter. Additionally, the 'Eyes on Asteroids' webpage provides real-time visualisation of asteroids and comets around the galaxy.

NASA assures: Approaching asteroids not a threat to Earth

NASA does not foresee any threat to the Earth from the two asteroids. The US space agency categorises asteroids as "potentially hazardous" if they exceed about 150 metres in size. Both the approaching asteroids are not this large. For reference, the average distance between Earth and the moon is about 239,000 miles (385,000 kilometres.)

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What are asteroids?

Asteroids, remnants from the formation of our solar system 4.6 billion years ago, are rocky fragments. They are a valuable record of our early solar system's evolution. Approximately 1.3 million asteroids are known.

Also Read: Astronomical breakthrough: Seven planets 'larger than earth' discovered

What is the purpose of studying asteroids?

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) mentioned on its website that asteroids are also the source of most meteorites that have struck the Earth’s surface and many of these meteorites have been subjected to detailed chemical and physical analyses, and thus their study is crucial. These space objects, which date back to the formation of our Earth 4.6 billion years ago, may hold the key to understanding how life's building blocks arrived on Earth through impacts.

Larger asteroids, if they collide with Earth, could cause local or global disasters, with devastating consequences. Although the probability of such an impact is remote, studying asteroids' compositions, structures, sizes, and trajectories is vital to mitigate the potential risks they pose.