3 Asteroids To Have Near-Collisions With Earth, NASA Warns

NASA warned that Earth is about to experience near-collisions with three approaching asteroids. According to NASA, two of these asteroids follow Earth-crossing orbits.

The first asteroid that will approach the planet tomorrow has been identified by NASA’s Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) as 2019 UK6. CNEOS indicated that this asteroid is currently moving towards Earth with an average velocity of over 17,000 miles per hour.

The agency estimated that this asteroid is about 361 feet wide, making it significantly larger than the Statue of Liberty.

The second asteroid that will enter Earth’s vicinity is called 2019 WF. This asteroid is currently flying at a speed of over 26,000 miles per hour. According to CNEOS, this asteroid has an estimated diameter of about 79 feet.

Closely following 2019 WF is an asteroid that has been identified as 2019 WE. As indicated in CNEOS’ database, this asteroid is about 89 feet wide. The agency stated that it has an average velocity of 19,000 miles per hour.

2019 UK6 has been classified as an Amor asteroid. This means that this asteroid follows a very wide trajectory that takes it around the Sun and the Earth. Unlike other asteroid families, Amors do not cross Earth’s path as it travels around the Sun.

Although Amor asteroids do not intersect Earth’s orbit, they are still known to approach the planet from close distances.

2019 WF and 2019 WE, on the other hand, are Apollo asteroids. Like other asteroids that belong to this group, these two space rocks travel around the Earth and the Sun. From time to time, their orbits intersect with that of Earth.

According to CNEOS, none of these asteroids are at risk of hitting the planet tomorrow during their near-Earth approaches. The agency noted that 2019 UK6 is expected to debut in Earth’s neighborhood on Nov. 20 at 1:20 am EST. During this time, the asteroid will be about 0.03926 astronomical units or roughly 3.6 million miles away.

2019 WF, on the other hand, will fly past the planet on Nov. 20 at 6:44 am EST from a distance of 0.00421 astronomical units or about 391,000 miles away.

As for 2019 WE, this asteroid will approach the planet on Nov. 20 at 4:50 p.m. EST. During this time, it will be about 0.00847 astronomical units or roughly 787,000 miles from the planet’s center.