NASA Asteroid Tracker: 5 Asteroids To Skim Earth This Week

NASA has detected five asteroids that are currently headed for Earth. According to the agency’s Center for Near Earth Object Studies (CNEOS), one of the approaching asteroids is almost as big as the Great Pyramid of Giza.

The first asteroid that’s set to zip past Earth this week is called 2019 RP2. As indicated in CNEOS’ database, this asteroid is currently traveling at a speed of 3,500 miles per hour and has an estimated diameter of about 32 feet.

CNEOS predicted that 2019 RP2 will approach the planet on Sept. 20 at 8:18 am EDT. During this time, the asteroid will be about 0.02171 astronomical units or roughly 2 million miles from the planet’s center.

The second asteroid that will zip past the planet this week is 2017 SL16. According to CNEOS, this asteroid is about 135 feet long. It is moving at a speed of about 14,500 miles per hour.

2017 SL16 is expected to make its near-Earth flyby on Sept. 20 at 10:12 pm EDT. As it makes its approach, the asteroid will be about 0.02027 astronomical units or about 1.9 million miles away from the planet.

Trailing behind 2017 SL16 is an asteroid known as 2017 SM21. This asteroid is currently flying at a speed of 21,500 miles per hour. CNEOS estimated that the asteroid is about 108 feet long.

2017 SM21 will reach its closest distance to Earth on Sept. 21 12:52 am EDT. During its approach, the asteroid will be about 0.02939 astronomical units or roughly 2.7 million miles from the planet’s center.

The fourth asteroid that will approach Earth this week has been identified as 2019 RB3. According to CNEOS, this asteroid is traveling at a velocity of 26,500 miles per hour. It is estimated to be about 279 feet long.

CNEOS noted that 2019 RB3 will fly past Earth on Sept. 21 at 10:33 am EDT. The asteroid will be about 0.04865 astronomical units or roughly 4.5 million miles away from the planet during its approach.

The last asteroid that will approach Earth is called 2019 QZ1. As the biggest asteroid in the group, 2019 QZ1 has an estimated diameter of 427 feet. As indicated in CNEOS’s database, this asteroid is moving at a velocity of 18,300 miles per hour.

2019 QZ1 will approach Earth on Sept. 21 at 9:19 pm EDT. During this time, the asteroid will be about 0.03198 astronomical units or almost 3 million miles from the planet.