NASA Asteroid family Mars and Jupiter
This artist concept catastrophic collisions between asteroids located in the belt between Mars and Jupiter and how they have formed families of objects on similar orbits around the sun. NASA/JPL-Caltech

NASA is currently monitoring a group of asteroids that are headed for Earth. One of the approaching asteroids is big enough to penetrate the atmosphere and cause an impact event if it hits Earth.

According to NASA’s Center for Near Earth Object Studies (CNEOS), the first asteroid that will zip past Earth on Friday is called 2019 TW6. The agency noted that this asteroid is currently moving towards Earth at a speed of 12,500 miles per hour. It has an estimated diameter of around 102 feet.

CNEOS predicted that 2019 TW6 will reach its closest distance on Earth on Oct. 18 at 2:25 am EDT. During this time, the asteroid will be about 0.03797 astronomical units or roughly 3.5 million miles from Earth.

Trailing behind 2019 TW6 is an asteroid that’s been identified as 2019 TP5. According to CNEOS, this asteroid has an average velocity of 41,500 miles per hour and is about 194 feet wide.

The agency noted that 2019 TP5 will approach Earth on Oct. 18 at 3:38 am EDT from a distance of 0.02102 astronomical units or almost 2 million miles.

The third asteroid that will visit Earth’s neighborhood on Friday is called 2019 TA1. As indicated in CNEOS’ database, this asteroid is currently flying towards Earth with a speed of 14,300 miles per hour. It has an estimated diameter of about 125 feet.

According to CNEOS, 2019 TA1 will fly past Earth on Oct. 18 at 8:53 am EDT. During its approach, the asteroid will be about 0.03962 astronomical units or roughly 3.9 million miles away.

The last asteroid that will approach Earth tomorrow is called 2019 TM7. As noted by CNEOS, this asteroid is currently traveling at a speed of almost 54,000 miles per hour and is believed to be 328 feet wide.

Given its size and current velocity, the asteroid could penetrate Earth’s atmosphere and cause an impact event if it hits the planet. If the asteroid ends up crashing on Earth, it could create a crater that’s over a mile wide.

Fortunately, 2019 TM7 will completely miss Earth during its upcoming visit. According to CNEOS, the asteroid will approach the planet on Oct. 18 at 10:44 am EDT from a distance of 0.02836 astronomical units or roughly 2.6 million miles.

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