Asteroid's Close Call: Near Miss Between Earth and Moon

A newly discovered car-sized asteroid, 2024 CY1, passed between the Earth and the Moon at a distance of about 121,000km, marking the tenth close encounter this year. Measuring 4 to 8m in diameter, it posed no risk to Earth. Astronomers have observed about 25,000 asteroids with potential city-wiping capabilities, and the European Space Agency estimates there could be a million more in the 30 to 100m size range near Earth. Efforts are underway to develop early warning systems, such as ESA's Neomir, to protect the planet from potentially hazardous asteroids.