NASA Asteroid Tracker: 5 Asteroids To Skim Earth This Weekend

NASA is closely monitoring a total of five asteroids that are headed for Earth. The biggest asteroid from the group is capable of creating a mile-wide crater if it collides with the planet.

According to NASA’s Center for Near Earth Object Studies (CNEOS), the first asteroid that will approach Earth this weekend is called 2019 RP2. As indicated in the agency’s database, this asteroid is currently moving at a speed of 3,500 miles per hour. It has an estimated diameter of 31 feet.

CNEOS expects the asteroid to approach Earth on Sept. 20 at 8:16 am EDT. During this time, the asteroid will fly past Earth from a distance of 0.02172 astronomical units or roughly 2 million miles away.

Trailing behind 2019 RP2 is an asteroid known as 2017 SL16. According to CNEOS, this asteroid is approaching Earth at a speed of 14,500 miles per hour. The agency noted that it has a diameter of about 135 feet.

2017 SL16 is set to fly past Earth on Sept. 20 at 10:12 pm EDT. During its approach, the asteroid will be about 0.02027 astronomical units or about 1.9 million miles from the planet’s center.

The third asteroid that CNEOS is currently monitoring is called 2017 SM21. This asteroid is moving at a velocity of almost 21,500 miles per hour and has an estimated diameter of around 108 feet.

2017 SM21 will approach Earth on Sept. 12 at 12:52 am EDT. As it flies past Earth, the asteroid is expected to be about 0.02939 astronomical units or around 2.7 million miles from the planet.

Trailing behind 2017 SM21 is asteroid 2019 RB3. At around 276 feet long, this asteroid is currently moving at a speed of 26,400 miles per hour.

CNEOS predicted that 2019 RB3 will zip past Earth on Sept. 21 at 10:33 am EDT. During its approach, the asteroid will be about 0.04864 astronomical units or roughly 4.5 million miles away.

The last asteroid that’s set to approach Earth is called 2019 QZ1. This is the largest asteroid from the group and is certainly capable of causing a lot of damage if it hits Earth. According to CNEOS, 2019 QZ1 is flying with a velocity of 18,300 miles per hour. It is about 427 feet long, making it almost as tall as the Great Pyramid of Giza.

2019 QZ1 is expected to approach Earth on Sept. 21 at 9:19 pm EDT. During this time, it will fly past Earth from a distance of 0.03198 astronomical units or around 3 million miles away.