Asteroid 4660 Nereus, carrying a significant amount of metals valued at $4.71 billion, is expected to enter Earth’s orbit on December 11.
According to the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), asteroid 4660 Nereus, which is over 330 meters long, is approaching Earth at a speed of approximately 23,700 km/h. However, scientists believe that this asteroid will not pose a threat to Earth.
4660 Nereus will enter Earth’s orbit on December 11. (Photo: Getty Images)
During this upcoming approach, 4660 Nereus will be about 3.86 million kilometers away from Earth, which is ten times the distance between Earth and the Moon. This asteroid is classified by NASA as a “near-Earth object” and “potentially hazardous.”
First discovered in 1982, its orbit around the Sun takes 1.82 years, allowing 4660 Nereus to pass by Earth every ten years.
According to NASA’s calculations, the next approach of this asteroid to Earth will occur on March 2, 2031, followed by another in November 2050. By February 2060, 4660 Nereus will move into Earth’s orbit at a distance of only about 1.2 million kilometers.
Currently, 4660 Nereus is also a potential target for space mining by scientists. A database tracking 600,000 asteroids estimates that this asteroid contains nickel, iron, and cobalt worth $4.71 billion.
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) previously considered collecting samples from 4660 Nereus using the Hayabusa spacecraft but later shifted its focus to another asteroid, 25143 Itokawa.
