Asteroid 2013 NK4 set to make close flyby of Earth today

A near-Earth asteroid, designated (439437) 2013 NK4, is set to make a close flyby of Earth on Monday, April 15. According to the European Space Agency's near-Earth Objects (NEO) Coordination Centre, the asteroid will zoom past Earth at 14:49 UTC (16:49 CEST).

Measuring between 400 and 1000 meters across, asteroid 439437 2013 NK4 will pass just 3, 250, 317 km from Earth's surface - nearly nine times the distance between Earth and the Moon - with zero chances of impact.

Observers will have another opportunity to view this asteroid in April of the next year, although it will not be as close as today's encounter. The gravitational interactions between this asteroid and Earth contribute to a cycle that repeats roughly every 30 years, according to ESA.

"This asteroid's close approaches to Earth come in pairs spaced almost exactly one year apart. It will pass us again next April, but it won't come as close as it does this year," says Richard Moissl, ESA Planetary Defence Office.

Asteroid 2013 NK4 is also known for its close approaches to Venus, but calculations confirm that there is no risk of this asteroid colliding with either Earth or Venus for at least the next 100 years.

☄️Asteroid (439437) 2013 NK4 will fly past Earth today, 15 April, at 14:49 UTC (16:49 CEST).It's between 400 and 1000 m across and will come within 9 times the distance between Earth and the Moon.It also makes close approaches to Venus, but we know it will not hit either… pic.twitter.com/MtzoUSE5Rh

— ESA Operations (@esaoperations) April 15, 2024