NASA Asteroid Tracker: Massive 1,870ft ‘Hazardous’ NEO Has Non-Zero Impact Probability

NASA has detected a potentially hazardous asteroid that has a non-zero impact probability with Earth next month.

The asteroid, known as 2006 QQ23, was first observed on Aug. 21, 2006. Based on the data collected by NASA’s Center for Near Earth Object Studies (CNEOS), the asteroid is traveling at a speed of 10,400 miles per hour.

It has an estimated diameter of 1,870 feet, making it significantly taller that most notable skyscrapers around the world such as the Empire State Building, the Taipei 101 and the Petronas Twin Towers.

According to CNEOS, the asteroid has been frequently approaching Earth and Venus since 1901. For this year’s approach, 2006 QQ23 is expected to zip past Earth on Aug. 10 at 7:23 am ST. It is expected to fly past Earth from a distance of 0.04877 astronomical units or around 4.6 million miles away.

Although it seems 2006 QQ23 will be traveling at a safe distance from Earth, NASA still classifies it as a potentially hazardous asteroid.

According to NASA, 2006 QQ23 is an Atens asteroid. Unlike other asteroid classifications, Atens objects are those that orbit around the Sun and crosses Earth’s path at two points.