NASA Asteroid 2019: 3,248-Foot And 394-Foot Asteroids To Zip Past Earth This October

NASA is currently tracking two massive asteroids that are headed for Earth. According to the agency’s Center for Near Earth Object Studies (CNEOS), one of the approaching asteroids is over three times taller than the Eiffel Tower in France.

One of the incoming asteroids has been identified by CNEOS as 162082 (1998 HL1). As indicated in the agency’s database, this is the largest asteroid to pass by Earth this month. It has an estimated diameter of 3,248 feet. The asteroid is currently approaching Earth with a speed of 25,000 miles per hour.

The second massive asteroid that’s set to approach Earth is called 2019 TR2. CNEOS noted that this asteroid has an estimated diameter of 394 feet. The agency noted that it is currently traveling with a velocity of 31,000 miles per hour.

Both 2019 TR2 and 162082 (1998 HL1) have been classified by CNEOS as Apollo asteroids. These kinds of asteroids are known to have very wide orbits that take them around the Earth and Sun. From time to time, the orbits of these asteroids intersect with that of Earth as the planet goes around the giant star.

As Apollo asteroids complete their voyage, they also pass near other planets such as Mercury and Mars. If the asteroids approach these planets at very close distances, they can get affected by their gravitational pull, which could alter the trajectories of the space rocks. If this happens, the asteroids could end up on a collision course with Earth.

An impact event caused by any of these asteroids, especially 162082 (1998 HL1), could be devastating for the affected areas. Due to their sizes, these asteroids could take out towns or entire cities during an impact event.

Fortunately, CNEOS noted that Earth is safe from these two asteroids. According to the agency, 162082 (1998 HL1) will fly past Earth on Oct. 25 at 1:21 pm EDT. During its approach, the asteroid will be about 0.04155 astronomical units or 3.9 million miles from the planet’s center.

2019 TR2, on the other hand, will approach Earth on Oct. 28 at 10:46 pm EDT from a distance of 0.4960 astronomical units or about 4.6 million miles away.