Asteroid 2024 PY flew past Earth at 0.2 LD

A newly-discovered asteroid designated 2024 PY flew past Earth at a distance of 0.24 LD / 0.00063 AU (94 290 km / 58 594 miles) from the center of our planet at 21:36 UTC on August 4, 2024.

Asteroid 2024 PY was first observed at Palomar Mountain — ZTF, California on August 5 — one day after its close approach to our planet.

The object belongs to the Apollo group of asteroids and has an estimated diameter between 3.5 and 7. 8 m (11.5 – 25.6 feet).

This is the 53^rd known asteroid to fly past Earth within 1 lunar distance since the start of the year and the first so far this month.

References:

¹ Asteroid 2024 PY at Minor Planet Center; at CNEOS

Featured image credit: CNEOS