NASA Asteroid Tracker: 2 Earth-Crossing NEOs Approaching Earth

KEY POINTS

NASA detected two asteroids approaching Earth
One of the asteroids is almost as big as the Leaning Tower of Pisa
Both approaching asteroids have natural orbits that intersect Earth's path

NASA is currently monitoring two asteroids that are expected to fly close to Earth on Tuesday (April 21). According to the agency’s Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS), the trajectories of the approaching asteroids are known to intersect Earth’s orbit.

The first asteroid that’s expected to approach the planet on Tuesday has been identified as 2020 HB. As indicated in CNEOS’ database, this asteroid is currently moving across the Solar System at a speed of over 30,000 miles per hour.

CNEOS estimated that 2020 HB has a diameter of about 180 feet wide, which makes it almost as tall as the Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy.

After 2020 HB’s visit, Earth will then be approached by another asteroid known as 2020 HO1. This asteroid is smaller and moving slower than 2020 HB. According to CNEOS, 2020 HO1 has an estimated diameter of 85 feet.

The agency estimated that 2020 HO1 is currently flying towards Earth at an average velocity of almost 14,000 miles per hour.

After analyzing the trajectories of the two incoming asteroids, NASA classified them as members of the Apollo family of space rocks. According to the agency, both asteroids follow elongated paths around the Sun that extend beyond Mars’ orbit.

Like other Apollo asteroids, 2020 HB and 2020 HO1 are known to intersect Earth’s path from time to time. These near-Earth intersections usually occur when the asteroids are flying close to the Sun.

According to CNEOS, 2020 HB will intersect Earth’s orbit on April 21 at 7:14 am EDT. As the asteroid crosses the planet’s path, it will be about 0.01481 astronomical units or around 1.4 million miles from Earth.

NASA noted that 2020 HB is not expected to return to Earth’s vicinity until April 6 at 2151. During this time, the asteroid will approach Earth from a distance of 0.25318 astronomical units or roughly 24 million miles away.

As for 2020 HO1, this asteroid will fly past Earth on April 21 at 3:08 p.m. EDT. It will be about 0.02593 astronomical units or around 2.4 million miles from the planet’s center during its flyby.