Massive Asteroid That Could Hit Earth Arriving Next Week, NASA Reveals

A massive asteroid that NASA stated is capable of causing over 160 potential impact events on Earth is expected to approach the planet next week. The updated data collected by the agency has revealed what will happen between Earth and the asteroid during the latter’s visit.

According to NASA’s Center for Near Earth Object Studies (CNEOS), the approaching asteroid is called 2007 FT3. Currently, the asteroid is in a special list compiled by the agency’s Sentry, which is an automated system that keeps tracks of space rocks that are in danger of colliding with Earth.

“Sentry is a highly automated collision monitoring system that continually scans the most current asteroid catalog for possibilities of future impact with Earth over the next 100 years,” CNEOS stated.

“Whenever a potential impact is detected it will be analyzed and the results immediately published here, except in unusual cases where we seek independent confirmation,” the agency added.

CNEOS noted that an asteroid will only be removed from the Sentry list once it has determined that it is no longer in danger of hitting Earth within the next century.

According to CNEOS, 2007 FT3 could cause a total of 165 potential impacts on Earth from 2019 to 2119. This year, the asteroid is expected to approach the planet on Oct. 3. The agency noted that if 2007 FT3 collides with Earth, it will enter the atmosphere with a velocity of almost 46,000 miles per hour.

With a diameter of 1,115, 2007 FT3 is almost as big as the Empire State building. Given its massive size and velocity, the asteroid is certainly capable of destroying a major city if it hits the planet. If the asteroid ends up crashing into the sea, it could cause a massive tsunami that can wipe out nearby coastal areas.

Fortunately, through observations on the asteroid’s current trajectory, CNEOS was able to rule out a possible collision between 2007 FT3 and Earth. According to the agency, the asteroid will fly past Earth from a distance of about 0.92517 astronomical units or around 86 million miles during its approach next week.

The asteroid’s next visit is expected to take place on Oct. 2, 2024.