NASA Data Shows 177-Foot Asteroid Has Non-Zero Impact Probability By 2023

NASA has detected an asteroid over half as big as the Statue of Liberty with a non-zero impact probability with Earth a couple of years from now.

The asteroid has been identified as 2005 ED224. It has been listed in Sentry’s database, which is NASA’s impact monitoring system. Through this system, NASA is able to keep track of all known asteroids that have non-zero chances of hitting Earth in the future.

"Sentry is a highly automated collision monitoring system that continually scans the most current asteroid catalog for possibilities of future impact with Earth over the next 100 years. Whenever a potential impact is detected it will be analyzed and the results immediately published here," NASA writes on its site.

While the asteroid only has a 1 in 380,000 odds of impact, should it hit Earth, it will have an average speed of about 98,300 kilometers per hour. The system noted that the asteroid measures about 177 feet wide.

As a member of the Apollo family of asteroids, 2005 ED224 travels around the Sun and occasionally crosses Earth’s path.

Based on Sentry’s calculations regarding the orbit and trajectory of 2005 ED224, the system detected a total of five potential Earth impacts. According to Sentry, the asteroid’s first possible impact could happen on March 11, 2023.

Usually, asteroids that are as big as 2005 ED224 break apart and explode shortly after going through Earth’s atmosphere. However, if 2005 ED224 is able to maintain its current speed, it could successfully go through the atmosphere and cause an impact event on the ground.

If 2005 ED224 misses Earth in 2023, the asteroid still has other possible impact dates with the planet in the future. According to the information collected by Sentry, the asteroid’s five potential Earth impacts could happen in 2023, 2028, 2029, 2030 and 2064.

Fortunately, the odds are very low it will hit Earth -- a 0.00026% chance of Earth impact.