Five massive asteroids on collision course with Earth: But why NASA is excited

Five asteroids made close approaches to Earth between August 27 and September 1, 2024, posing no threat but offering scientific opportunities. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory tracked the asteroids to gather data for understanding their trajectories and behaviors. These observations were crucial for advancing planetary defense strategies and gaining insights into the origins of the universe, contributing to safer and better-informed future monitoring of near-Earth objects.