NASA Asteroid Tracker: 4 Asteroids To Narrowly Miss Earth This Week

Earth is about to get several close encounters with massive asteroids this week. The biggest near-Earth object that will zoom past the planet is bigger than the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

According to NASA’s Center for Near Earth Object Studies (CNEOS), a total of four asteroids will approach the planet before June ends. The first asteroid will fly by Earth on June 27 at 10:01 pm ST.

Dubbed as 2008 KV2, this asteroid is the biggest in the group. It has a diameter of almost 1,100 feet and is currently travelling at a speed of 25,400 miles per hour. Once it makes its approach, the near-Earth object is expected to be within 0.04548 astronomical units or 4.2 million miles away from the planet’s center.

Trailing behind 2008 KV2 is asteroid 2016 NN15. This asteroid is traveling at a much slower speed at 18,700 miles per hour. It is about 85 feet long and will fly close to Earth on June 28 at 3:31 pm ST.

During its approach, CNEOS estimated that the asteroid will only be about 0.02470 astronomical units or roughly 2.3 million miles from Earth’s surface.

The third asteroid that NASA is currently monitoring is called 2019 LR4. According to the space agency, the space rock will zip past the planet on June 29 at 5:51 am ST.

As indicated in CNEOS’ database, 2019 LR4 is currently traveling at a speed of about 18,500 miles per hour and is estimated to be 170 feet long. Its closest distance to Earth will be at 0.02884 astronomical units or around 2.9 million miles away.

The last asteroid that will visit Earth’s neighborhood before the month ends is labeled as 2019 LV1. It has a diameter of about 151 feet and is set to approach the planet on June 29 at 10:30 pm ST.

Although 2019 LV1 is the slowest traveling asteroid among the group with a velocity of only 13,800 miles per hour, it will fly closest to the planet. According to CNEOS, this asteroid will only be about 0.01337 astronomical units or 1.2 million miles away from Earth during its approach.