A newly discovered asteroid designated 2024 XA flew past Earth at 0.02 LD / 0.00005 AU (7 726 km / 4 801 miles) from the center of our planet at 09:46 UTC on December 1, 2024. This is about 1 355 km (842 miles) above the surface, making it the closest asteroid flyby of the year and the second closest on record.
Asteroid 2024 XA was first observed at Catalina Sky Survey, Arizona at 04:58 UTC today – approximately 5 hours before the flyby.
This is the 123rd known asteroid to fly past Earth within 1 lunar distance since the start of the year and the closest of the year. This is also the second closest asteroid flyby on record (since 1900), after 2020 VT4 on November 13, 2020.
It flew past us about 1 355 km (842 miles) above the surface — well below the geostationary orbit altitude of 35 786 km (22 236 miles), where satellites responsible for global communications, weather monitoring, and navigation maintain orbit synchronized with Earth’s rotation.
This object belongs to the Apollo group of asteroids and has an estimated diameter between 1.3 and 2.8 m (4.2 – 9.2 feet).
Its next close approach to Earth will take place on April 18, 2024, at a distance of about 0.04 AU (17 LD).
References:
1 Asteroid 2024 XA – Minor Planet Center – Accessed December 1, 2024
2 Asteroid 2024 XA – CNEOS – Accessed December 1, 2024