On Thursday, an asteroid named 2024 GJ2 is set to make a close encounter with Earth, zooming past our planet at a distance of approximately 11,100 miles. Although this may sound far away, it is actually just a mere 4 percent of the distance between the Earth and the moon.

Measuring between 7.2 and 16.4 feet across, 2024 GJ2 is comparable in size to a giraffe. This asteroid is categorized as a near-Earth object (NEO), one of the over 31,000 asteroids that are less than 30 million miles away from our planet. NASA is diligently tracking approximately 2,350 potentially hazardous asteroids (PHAs) or potentially hazardous objects (PHOs) larger than 460 feet in diameter and closer to Earth than 4.6 million miles.

Fortunately, 2024 GJ2 falls into the category of NEOs rather than PHAs or PHOs due to its smaller size. Approaching at an astonishing speed of around 32,167 mph, which is nearly 18 times faster than a bullet, the asteroid poses an extremely low probability of impact, measuring at a mere 0.00000018, according to NASA's Center for Near Earth Object Studies.

While the chances of a small asteroid like 2024 GJ2 causing any harm are minimal, experts emphasize the devastating potential of larger PHA asteroids. Jay Tate, director of the UK's Spaceguard Centre observatory, warns that an asteroid measuring 100-200 meters (330-650 feet) in diameter could result in regional disaster, impacting a small country with far-reaching global consequences on the economy and globalization.

Thankfully, the likelihood of a significant asteroid collision within the foreseeable future remains incredibly low. According to Gretchen Benedix, an astrogeologist at Australia's Curtin University, the odds of such an event occurring in the next 1,000 years are a mere 0.001 percent, depending on the size of the asteroid.

While there is no imminent cause for concern, NASA and other space agencies around the world continue to monitor and research asteroids, ensuring a better understanding of their characteristics and potential threats. The ongoing efforts serve as a vital safeguard against any future space-related risks.

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