NASA Asteroid 2019: 3 NEOs To Fly By Earth This Weekend

NASA’s asteroid tracking system has spotted three space rocks that are expected to approach Earth this weekend. According to the data gathered by the agency’s Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS), the biggest asteroid in the group is wider than the wingspan of a Boeing 747 plane.

The first asteroid that will zip past Earth this weekend has been identified as 2019 UD2. As indicated in CNEOS’ database, this asteroid is currently flying towards Earth with an average speed of about 17,200 miles per hour. The agency estimated that this asteroid is about 95 feet wide.

CNEOS classified 2019 UD2 as an Apollo asteroid. This means that like other asteroids that belong to this family, 2019 UD2’s orbit around the Sun is very wide. Occasionally, its orbit intersects with that of Earth as it completes its cycle around the Sun.

2019 UD2 is expected to fly past Earth on Oct. 26 at 12:30 pm EDT. During this time, the asteroid will be about 0.03116 astronomical units or roughly 2.9 million miles from the planet’s center.

Trailing behind 2019 UD2 is an asteroid known as 2016 TH94. According to CNEOS, this asteroid is currently moving across space with a velocity of 31,300 miles per hour. It has a diameter of about 242 feet, making it the largest asteroid in the group.

2016 TH94 is classified as an Aten asteroid. Although the asteroid doesn’t go around Earth, its orbit intersects with that of the planet from time to time. This happens when the asteroid approaches its farthest point from the Sun.

CNEOS predicted that 2016 TH94 will approach Earth on Oct. 26 at 1:44 pm EDT. During its approach, the asteroid will be about 0.02827 astronomical units or around 2.6 million miles away.

The last asteroid that will fly past Earth this weekend is called 2019 UC2. This asteroid is currently traveling at an average speed of about 14,800 miles per hour and is believed to be around 85 feet wide.

CNEOS classified 2019 UC2 as an Amor asteroid. Unlike 2019 UD2 and 2016 TH94, 2019 UCD’s orbit does not intersect with that of Earth. Instead, it occasionally flies close to the planet during its orbital cycle.

According to CNEOS, 2019 UC2 will visit Earth’s neighborhood on Oct. 27 at 12:50 pm EDT. During its flyby, the asteroid’s closest distance to Earth will be about 0.04240 astronomical units or roughly 3.9 million miles.