The firmament always has surprises in store for us, And for the Christmas holidays of 2024, astronomers around the world have focused their attention on a special guest: asteroid 2024 XN1. This celestial body, classified as a NEO (Near Earth Object), has made headlines for its close pass by our planet right on Christmas Eve, sparking both fascination and questions among the curious and lovers of the cosmos.
Far from the threats of apocalyptic movies, The latest information from NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) confirms that XN1 is nothing to worry about. However, its size, speed, and the media attention it has generated make it clear that our world remains vulnerable to the whims of the universe, and asteroid surveillance remains a priority on the scientific agenda.
Characteristics of asteroid 2024 XN1: size and peculiarities
Asteroid 2024 XN1 was first detected on December 12, 2024 Thanks to NASA and ESA surveillance systems, just a dozen days before its closest approach to Earth. It's surprising that an object of its size can go so "unnoticed" until so shortly before its approach, which underscores the complexity of tracking space objects that cross our planet's vicinity at some point in their orbit.
The estimated size of XN1 ranges between 29 and 70 meters in diameter, According to data provided by NASA and ESA. Some sources, such as the Royal Observatory Greenwich and international media, estimate its average size at around 39-40 meters in height, comparing it to a ten-story building or even the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa. This range of estimates is due to observational limitations and differences in the asteroid's reflectivity, which make it difficult to calculate its exact size.
Its speed is another point that impresses: The XN1 travels at a speed of approximately 23.700 kilometers per hour (about 6,59 km/s). Although there are slight discrepancies depending on the source, all confirm that it is a genuine space "bullet."
- Estimated dimensions: between 29 and 70 meters in diameter.
- Velocity of displacement: around 23.700 km/h.
- Comparisons: similar in size to a 10-story building or the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
This profile places it among the intermediate-sized asteroids, far from the "giants" of the solar system but large enough to inspire respect and constant monitoring of its trajectory.
XN1's orbit and passage around Earth: key distances and dates
XN1's closest approach to Earth occurred on December 24, 2024, at 02:57 UTC. According to calculations by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, with a margin of error of less than a minute. During that instant, the space rock passed within approximately 7,21 million kilometers of Earth, which is roughly 18 times the average distance between the Earth and the Moon. Astronomically, this is considered a "close approach," although in everyday terms, it's an enormous and completely safe distance.
ESA and NASA quickly ruled out any possibility of a collision, based on extremely precise orbital calculations. XN1 was even removed from any list of potentially hazardous objects, after confirming its trajectory posed no threat to Earth.
- Minimum distance to the planet: 7,21 million kilometers (4,48 million miles).
- Closest approach date: 24th December 2024.
- New future approach: January 2032, 4,7 million kilometers away.
- Most important approach planned: December 2106, 3,4 million kilometers away.
The orbit of XN1 continues to be monitored to predict future encounters. In fact, tracking these types of asteroids not only allows us to anticipate risks, but is also essential for improving our response capacity to unforeseen events, as explained in our article on Advances in asteroid exploration.
What would happen if an asteroid like XN1 hit Earth?
Although the passage of XN1 did not pose any risk, The scientific community continues to wonder what the consequences of an object of its size impacting the Earth's surface would be. Calculations by NASA and related organizations produce staggering figures: the energy released would be equivalent to the explosion of nearly 12 million tons of TNT.
What does this mean in practice? It would be enough to devastate an area of around 2.000 square kilometers, devastating everything in its path. Not in vain, this destructive potential is compared to the famous Tunguska Event of 1908 in Siberia, where an asteroid of similar size leveled more than 80 million trees and released an estimated energy of about 30 megatons of TNT, generating a roar that could be heard for thousands of kilometers around. To better understand the magnitude of these risks, you can consult our article on the impact of the Tunguska event.
This justifies that the tracking, detection and analysis of the orbit of these objects are an international priority, not only because of the spectacular nature of these events but also for the safety of the planet itself.
Planetary Defense: How Potentially Hazardous Asteroids Are Monitored and Deflected
Monitoring near-Earth objects (NEOs) is a constant task This involves agencies such as NASA, the European Space Agency, and their control and coordination centers, including the Asteroid Watch Dashboard and the Near-Earth Object Coordination Center. Its mission is to detect, catalog, and analyze the movements of all celestial bodies that pass close to Earth and that, due to their size and orbit, could pose a potential danger in the future. If you want to delve deeper into detection and deflection technologies, we recommend reading about NASA's plan to deflect meteorites.
Currently, approximately 36.000 NEOs have been identified, although more than 14.000 asteroids larger than 140 meters remain to be discovered, according to the most recent reports from NASA's Planetary Defense Coordination Office.
Planetary defense has taken a qualitative leap with missions such as DART, This involved intentionally crashing a spacecraft into an asteroid to alter its orbit, demonstrating that it's possible to deflect dangerous objects with current technology. The results will be monitored and expanded by the European Hera mission in 2026, a crucial milestone for our collective response to potential threats from space.
The development and implementation of these technologies is vital to protecting humanity from potential impacts and, in turn, offers a unique opportunity to advance our understanding of the cosmos.
Curiosities and astronomical context of XN1 and other Christmas asteroids
The passage of XN1 was not the only notable celestial event in December 2024. During those dates, other asteroids also caught the attention of astronomers:
- 2013 YB: Measuring just under 3 meters in diameter, it crossed Earth's orbit on December 23. Although the probability of impact was extremely low (1 in 52.356), had it entered the atmosphere, it would have generated nothing more than a fleeting and conspicuous fireball.
- 2021 BA2: It made its approach on Christmas Day, passing within 2,76 million kilometers of Earth. With dimensions similar to XN1—between 30 and 70 meters in diameter—it was also considered safe by planetary monitoring systems.
- Other small NEOs: During those festive days, objects such as YC, YH, YD2 and AO4 were tracked, all much smaller and not dangerous to terrestrial life.
An additional curiosity is the difficulty of observing XN1: Even with amateur telescopes, it was virtually impossible to distinguish due to its distance. Only professional teams at well-equipped observatories were able to detect its faint glow, highlighting the importance of technology in modern space surveillance.
The coincidence of these close approaches at Christmas time has led to XN1 being nicknamed the “Christmas asteroid,” which, in addition to its scientific value, has sparked popular and media interest.
Scientific implications and future explorations related to asteroids
Not all the attention paid to asteroids is related to the risk they pose. These celestial bodies are a true cosmic time capsule, They are made of primordial materials from the solar system. Studying their composition, structure, and behavior helps us understand the origin of our planetary environment and the possibilities for the evolution of life.
Furthermore, the interest in the exploitation of mineralogical resources The discovery of asteroids is gradually making its way here. They are rich in valuable minerals that, while currently unprofitable to extract and bring back to Earth, could be essential for building space infrastructure or generating fuel in situ for interplanetary exploration in the future.
Understanding the orbital dynamics, composition, and potential of these objects It is essential, not only for our security, but also for advancing the exploration and colonization of the solar system in the medium and long term.
