Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi

New Delhi, Jun 4: A gigantic asteroid, believed to be larger than the iconic Golden Gate Bridge, is set to pass close to Earth on Wednesday, June 5, according to space experts. Despite its intimidating size, the asteroid 424482 (2008 DG5) is not expected to pose any threat to the planet.

Measuring between 1,017 and 2,264 feet, this space rock is bigger than 97 percent of all known asteroids, placing it among the top 3 percent by size. The asteroid will pass at a distance of approximately 3.49 million kilometres from Earth—roughly nine times farther than the Moon.

The US-based space agency NASA has categorized 2008 DG5 as a "potentially hazardous asteroid" based on two main factors: its large size and its close proximity to Earth’s orbit. NASA classifies any object larger than 500 metres and coming within 7.5 million kilometres of Earth as potentially dangerous.

While there is no risk of collision this time, scientists caution that an asteroid of this magnitude, if it were to strike Earth, could result in severe regional destruction, including shockwaves and even tsunami events if it crashes into water bodies.

For context, experts point to the Tunguska event of 1908 in Siberia, where a much smaller asteroid—measuring just about 130 feet—exploded in the air, flattening over 80 million trees across 2,000 square kilometres.

The asteroid belongs to the Apollo group, known for crossing Earth’s orbit, and was first detected in 2008 by the Catalina Sky Survey in Arizona, USA. It orbits the sun once every 514 Earth days and is expected to make its next close approach to our planet in 2032.

Meanwhile, in an earlier alert, NASA also flagged asteroid 2024 YR4, comparable in size to the Statue of Liberty, warning that it could potentially unleash energy 100 times stronger than the Hiroshima atomic bomb if it were to impact Earth.

As of now, astronomers assure there is no immediate danger, and the June 5 flyby will be a safe celestial event—but one that continues to remind scientists of the importance of planetary defence.