The asteroid (2024 MK) will pass close to Earth next Saturday at 1:41 PM GMT, coming within 295,000 kilometers, which is two-thirds the distance to the Moon. The asteroid was discovered just a few days ago, specifically on June 16, and has a diameter of 187 meters. It is classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid.
Engineer Mohammed Shawkat Ouda, director of the International Astronomical Center, stated that "what distinguishes this event is that the asteroid will be very bright as it approaches Earth, reaching a magnitude of 8.6, meaning it can be seen using a simple telescope if one knows its location in the sky. No asteroid has passed near Earth at this brightness in over 12 years."
He added that such a passage will not occur again until 2028, and the asteroid will travel at a speed of approximately 34,000 kilometers per hour, with an apparent speed in the sky of 6.5 degrees per hour, which is a very high figure—indicating it moves 13 times faster than the Moon in the sky.
Ouda explained that on June 29, due to its high speed, the asteroid will cross many star groups during its journey across the sky, starting in the "Rabbit" constellation, then moving to the "Carpenter's Square," followed by the "Scorpio," "Sagittarius," "Eagle," "Aquarius," "Dolphin," and finally the "Pegasus" constellation.
For the Arab region, the passage of the asteroid will occur during the day, requiring waiting until dusk in the eastern Arab world on June 29. By around 5:30 PM GMT, when the asteroid is higher in the sky, its brightness will decrease to magnitude 10, meaning a small telescope will be needed to observe it.
Ouda pointed out that the Khatem Astronomical Observatory, part of the International Astronomical Center, is collaborating with a number of global observatories to monitor asteroids that pose a risk to Earth, as part of a program overseen by the famous Catalina Observatory.
