NASA Asteroid 2019: 8 Asteroids To Skim Earth Tuesday, All May Explode In Sky

NASA is monitoring a total of eight asteroids that are currently headed for Earth. If these asteroids end up hitting the planet, they will most like burn up in the atmosphere and explode in the sky.

According to the agency’s Center for Near Earth Object Studies (CNEOS), the asteroids that will fly past Earth have been identified as 2019 TU, 2019 TW1, 2019 RK, 2019 TC1, 2019 SB6, 2019 TM, 2019 TS and 2019 TV1.

As noted by the agency, Earth will get eight visits from different asteroids on Oct. 8. These near-Earth approaches will take place from 4:27 a.m. EDT to 9:16 p.m. EDT on Tuesday.

CNEOS noted that the asteroids are traveling at average speeds ranging from 6,800 to 29,000 miles per hour. The sizes of the approaching asteroids also vary. The smallest one, which has been identified as 2019 TW1, has an estimated diameter of 52 feet while 2019 TM, the largest asteroid in the group, spans about 207 feet. Given its size, this asteroid is almost as big as the wingspan of a Boeing 747 plane.

Based on the sizes and average speeds of the asteroids, these space rocks will most likely not reach the ground if they end up on a collision course with the planet. Instead, these asteroids will probably explode mid-air after entering the atmosphere.

Probably the most famous case of an airburst caused by an asteroid was the one that exploded over Russia in 2013. During that time, an asteroid that was about 66 feet wide detonated over a region known as Chelyabinsk Oblast.

The explosion it caused was so powerful that its energy was equivalent to around 30 atomic bombs. Although the explosion happened in the sky, it still damaged about 7,000 buildings on the ground.

Fortunately, it seems none of the eight asteroids will hit Earth during their upcoming visits. According to CNEOS, most of the space rocks will approach Earth from millions of miles away. The asteroid that will fly closest to Earth is called 2019 TW1. During its approach, it will zoom past the planet from only 351,000 miles away. This is expected to happen on Oct. 8 at 3:09 a.m. EDT.