NASA Asteroid Tracker: Massive 850ft 'Potentially Hazardous' NEO Headed For Earth Today

A massive space rock officially classified by NASA as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA) is currently headed for Earth. According to the agency’s Center for Near Earth Object Studies (CNEOS), the approaching asteroid is almost twice as big as the Great Pyramid of Giza.

The asteroid, known as 2010 PK9, is currently traveling at a speed of 37,000 miles per hour. CNEOS estimated that it is about 853 feet long, making it significantly taller than the towers of the Golden Gate Bridge in California.

2010 PK9 is expected to make its debut in Earth’s neighborhood on July 26 at 3:04 pm ST. As it flies past Earth, its closest distance from the planet’s center will be about 0.02107 astronomical units or around 1.9 million miles away.

NASA classified 2010 PK9 as a PHA because of its close orbit intersection with Earth.

“Potentially Hazardous Asteroids are currently defined based on parameters that measure the asteroid’s potential to make threatening close approaches to the Earth,” NASA said in a statement. “Specifically, all asteroids with a minimum orbit intersection distance of 0.05 [astronomical unit] or less and an absolute magnitude of 22.0 or less are considered PHAs.”

2010 PK9 is categorized as an Aten asteroid. According to CNEOS, Aten asteroids follow an oval orbit around the Sun. As they approach their farthest distance from the Sun, they intersect with Earth’s orbit.

2010 PK9 was first observed on Aug. 5, 2010. According to the data collected on the asteroid’s history, it has been a frequent visitor to the neighborhoods of Mercury, Venus and Earth since 1900.

The last time 2010 PK9 visited Earth was on Sept. 3, 2018. During this time, the massive asteroid flew at a distance of 0.17213 astronomical units or around 16 million miles from the planet’s center.

After its upcoming approach, 2010 PK9 will head over to the orbits of Mercury and Venus.

The asteroid is expected to return to Earth’s vicinity on Aug. 25, 2022. According to CNEOS, 2010 PK9 will approach the planet from a distance of 0.41907 astronomical units or about 39 million miles during its future flyby.