Peanut-shaped mysterious object flies close to Earth, captured on radar

In Short
The asteroid was spotted by Nasa-funded Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System
It resembles a giant space peanut
Scientists believe it to be a contact binary, consisting of two rounded lobes
A potentially hazardous near-Earth asteroid, dubbed 2024 ON, made a close approach to Earth on September 17, 2024, passing at a distance of 620,000 miles – about 2.6 times the distance between Earth and the Moon.

The asteroid’s unique shape and surface features were revealed in a series of detailed radar images captured by Nasa’s Goldstone Solar System Radar near Barstow, California, just a day before its closest approachThe asteroid, first spotted by the Nasa-funded Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) in Hawaii on July 27, resembles a giant space peanut.
Scientists believe it to be a contact binary, consisting of two rounded lobes connected by a narrow neck, with one lobe approximately 50% larger than the other. This celestial object measures about 1,150 feet (350 meters) in length, with surface features as small as 12.3 feet (3.75 meters) visible in the radar images.

Bright spots detected on the asteroid’s surface likely indicate the presence of large boulders. The radar observations, spanning about six hours, captured roughly 90% of one complete rotation of the asteroid, providing scientists with invaluable data about its structure and composition.While 2024 ON is classified as potentially hazardous due to its size and proximity to Earth’s orbit, Nasa officials stress that it poses no threat to our planet for the foreseeable future.

The high-resolution radar data collected during this close approach has allowed researchers to significantly refine their understanding of the asteroid’s orbit and future trajectory for decades to come.

This encounter highlights the crucial role of planetary radar in studying near-Earth objects and enhancing our planetary