Asteroid 2024 JT3 to fly past Earth at just 0.07 LD on May 9

A newly-discovered asteroid designated 2024 JT3 will fly past Earth at a distance of just 0.07 LD / 0.00017 AU (24 710 km / 15 976 miles) from the center of our planet at 09:34 UTC on May 9, 2024.

This is the 41^st asteroid to fly past Earth within 1 lunar distance since the start of the year and the fourth so far this month. It is also the third closest fly-by of the year, following 2024 HA at 0.040 LD on April 16 and 2024 GJ2 at 0.049 LD on April 11.

Asteroid 2024 JT3 was first observed at Mt. Lemmon Survey on May 8 — just one day before its close approach.

The object belongs to the Apollo group of asteroids and has an estimated diameter between 3.9 and 8.7 m (12.8 – 28.5 feet).

Featured image credit: CNEOS