Discover the Latest Near-Earth Asteroid (415029) 2011 UL21 Update

A mountain-sized space rock known as the Planet Killer, (415029) 2011 UL21, is set to fly past Earth on Thursday, June 27. This asteroid is larger than 99% of known near-Earth objects and has a diameter of 2.5 kilometers. Although it will come within 4.1 million miles of Earth, it will still be 17 times farther away from Earth than the moon. The European Space Agency estimates that the asteroid orbits the sun every three years and is one of the largest potentially hazardous asteroids.

A skyscraper-size asteroid discovered two weeks ago, named 2024 MK, is estimated to measure about 480 feet across, which is greater than the height of a 40-story building or the Great Pyramid of Giza. At its closest approach, the asteroid will pass within roughly 184,000 miles of our planet, about three-quarters the average distance between Earth and the moon. However, NASA has assured that this hefty space rock poses no threat to Earth and is classified as a "potentially hazardous asteroid" due to its large size and precarious orbit.

The asteroid was discovered by astronomers in South Africa on June 16. After its close approach to Earth and the moon, 2024 MK will head back towards the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter and is not expected to return to our neighborhood until 2037. NASA monitors the orbits of more than 35,000 near-Earth objects, ensuring that there are no known asteroids posing a threat to our planet for at least the next 100 years.

The close approach of 2024 MK comes just days after an even larger asteroid, (415029) 2011 UL21, flew past Earth. This mountain-sized object, measuring between 1.1 and 2.4 miles wide, came within 4.1 million miles from Earth, making it one of the largest asteroids to come close to our planet in 110 years. Despite its size, the Virtual Telescope Project reassured that it poses no threat to Earth.

If you are interested in watching this asteroid's near-Earth approach, you can tune in to a free livestream from the Virtual Telescope Project. The livestream will begin on June 27 and will provide viewers with a view of the asteroid from the Bellatrix Astronomical Observatory in Ceccano, Italy. Due to its enormous size and brightness, the asteroid will also be visible across the Northern Hemisphere on June 28 and 29.