Near-Earth asteroids 2024 JR1 and 2024 JD close approach live views

Two near-Earth asteroids, designated 2024 JR1 and 2024 JD, are set to make a close approach to Earth between May 7 and May 8, 2024. Both asteroids will come within less than the distance of the moon (1 LD), with 2024 JR1 approaching at about 0.72 LD (295 000 km / 183 700 miles) and 2024 JD at approximately 0.77 LD (275 800 km / 171 415 miles).

Asteroid 2024 JR1, discovered on May 4, 2024, measures between 7.6 and 17 m (24.9 to 55.8 feet) in diameter. It is expected to reach its closest approach to Earth on May 7 at 00:04 UTC.

The second asteroid, 2024 JD, was discovered slightly earlier, on May 1, 2024. It has an estimated diameter of 8.2 to 18 m (26.9 to 59.1 feet) and will make its nearest approach on May 8 at 13:34 UTC.

Both asteroids were tracked and analyzed by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, which confirmed that there are no risks to Earth from these encounters.

The Virtual Telescope Project has announced it will host a live feed of these close approaches, offering a unique opportunity for public viewing. The live stream is scheduled to begin on May 6, 2024, at 19:30 UTC.

The Virtual Telescope Project provides an excellent platform for astronomy enthusiasts and the general public to observe these asteroids from home. Those interested in witnessing this celestial spectacle can access the live stream at the designated start time.

Since the beginning of the year, our sky surveys have identified 38 asteroids with orbits that bring them within one lunar distance of Earth. Of them, 12 were in the month of April.

The closest was 2024 HA at a distance of just 0.4 LD / 0.00010 AU (15 550 km / 9 662 miles) at 17:42 UTC on April 16, 2024. This made it the closest asteroid flyby of the year and the 20^th closest on record.

The largest was 2024 HT1 with an estimated diameter between 33 and 74 m (108 – 242 feet). It made a close approach at 0.9 LD on April 26

Featured image credit: Virtual Telescope, TW