New Delhi: Newly discovered near-Earth object (NEO) called 2024 SE4 is making concern because of its closeness to Earth. Classified as an Apollo-type asteroid, 2024 SE4 is set to pass within approximately 2.6 million kilometres of Earth on 22 October 2024 at 17:16 UTC. The asteroid has been observed since the first time the asteroid was observed on 26 September 2024 and has a total of 29 observations that helped to identify the characteristics of the asteroid’s orbit.
The calculated eccentricity of 2024 SE4 is 0.162, which suggest that the orbit of this asteroid is slightly oval. It orbits at an average distance (or semi-major axis is) of 1.20 AU, parse Float It has an orbital period of 381 days and a peristalsis (astronomical symbol) rarely exceeds 1 AU. The asteroid is still fairly tipped at about 0.98° which means that it travels only a little distance from the plane of the solar system. Typically, 2024 SE4 orbits the Sun once in approximately 479 Earth days, it would take the asteroid just over a year to travel the distance.
Close Approaches
This gives the minimum approach distance for the asteroid to the equatorial plane as 2,64 million kilometers which is 7 times the distance from Earth to the Moon. Its velocity with respect to the Earth during this approach is 2.22 km/s, with a small error of +/-1 kilometer. The impact possibility is also considered as low by scientist due to the accuracy in movements assessment of approaching asteroid.
Future Encounters
2024 SE4 has been approaching the Earth in near past and had past encounters in the year 1962 and 1999. Its marketing future trajectories include another relatively distant fly-by in 2029. Although the object is not large enough to present a dangerous threat it provides astronomers with a glimpse into the behaviour of NEOs and the ability to fine tune orbital calculations.
