Christmas Eve this year will feature more than just Santa Claus flying through the sky.
NASA has issued a warning about a massive asteroid, 2024 XN1, expected to pass Earth on December 24 at a staggering speed of 14,743 mph.
The size and speed of the Christmas eve asteroid
2024 XN1 is estimated to measure between 95 and 230 feet in diameter, roughly the size of a 10-story building.
NASA’s Asteroid Watch dashboard confirms the asteroid will pass Earth at a distance of 4.48 million miles.
Although this is considered a near miss in astronomical terms, experts reassure there is no danger of a collision.
The potential impact of 2024 XN1
If 2024 XN1 were to strike Earth, scientists estimate its impact would equal 12 million tons of TNT.
This force could devastate an area of 700 square miles, comparable to the Tunguska Event of 1908, which flattened 80 million trees in Siberia.
Jess Lee, an astronomer at the Royal Greenwich Observatory, stated, “It will be around 18 times further away than the Moon, posing no risk to Earth.”
Discovery and tracking of 2024 XN1
NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) first spotted 2024 XN1 on December 12. After calculating its orbit, they classified it as a “close approach,” meaning it will come within 4.65 million miles of Earth.
The asteroid will make its closest approach at 2:56 a.m. GMT on Christmas Eve.
Despite the proximity on a solar system scale, 2024 XN1 poses no threat and is not listed on ESA’s Risk List.
Future approaches of 2024 XN1
After its festive flyby, 2024 XN1 will not approach Earth again until January 2032. During that pass, it will come closer at 3.1 million miles. Its closest approach will occur in December 2106, when it will skim past Earth at just 2.11 million miles.
Other asteroids visiting during the holidays
The Christmas season will feature several other asteroid flybys:
2013 YB: On December 23, this small asteroid, just 10 feet in diameter, has a slim chance of entering Earth’s atmosphere. If it does, it will likely burn up, creating a bright fireball. ESA predicts a one in 52,356 chance of impact.
2021 BA2: On Christmas Day, this asteroid, estimated at 100 to 230 feet wide, will pass Earth at 1.71 million miles. Despite its size and proximity, it poses no collision risk.
Eiffel Tower-Sized Asteroid : On January 5, 2025, a massive 1,310-foot asteroid will pass Earth at 49,660 mph.
While 2024 XN1’s close approach is a stark reminder of Earth’s vulnerability to space rocks, experts assure there’s no cause for alarm. The asteroid will pass at a safe distance, allowing us to enjoy Christmas without worry. The event underscores the importance of continued monitoring of near-Earth objects.