NASA Asteroid Tracker: 2 NEOs To Zip Past Earth On Wednesday

NASA’s automated asteroid tracking system has spotted two near-Earth objects that are expected to fly past the planet on Wednesday (June 17). According to the data collected by the agency, one of the approaching asteroids is almost as big as the Statue of Liberty.

The incoming asteroids are currently being monitored by NASA’s Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS). As noted by the agency, the first asteroid that will enter Earth’s vicinity tomorrow is called 2020 JU3.

This space rock has an estimated diameter of 292 feet. It is currently traveling across space toward Earth at a speed of over 24,000 miles per hour.

Trailing behind 2020 JU3 is a smaller asteroid known as 2020 KF3. CNEOS estimated that this space rock measures about 79 feet wide. It is currently flying toward the planet at an average velocity of almost 8,000 miles per hour.

According to NASA’s orbit diagrams, 2020 JU3 follows an elongated orbit around the Sun that extends into the plane between Mars and Jupiter. 2020 KF3, on the other hand, mainly orbits between the Earth and Mars.

Occasionally, both asteroids intersect Earth’s orbit as they make their way around the Sun. Due to their Earth-crossing trajectories, 2020 JU3 and 2020 KF3 have been classified as Apollo asteroids.

Despite having dangerous natural orbits, CNEOS noted that these two asteroids are not in danger of colliding with Earth as they intersect the planet’s path tomorrow. According to the agency, 2020 JU3 and 2020 KF3 will zip past Earth from safe distances.

2020 JU3 will fly past Earth on June 17 at 5:21 a.m. EDT. During its approach, the asteroid will be about 0.01754 astronomical units from the planet’s center, which is equivalent to 1.6 million miles.

2020 KF3, on the other hand, will approach Earth from a much farther distance. As noted by CNEOS, this asteroid will enter Earth’s vicinity on June 17 at 4:30 p.m. EDT. As it moves to intersect the planet’s path, the asteroid will fly past the planet from a distance of about 0.03204 astronomical units or roughly 3 million miles away.