NASA Detects 2 Near-Earth Asteroids Approaching Tomorrow; Are They Dangerous?

NASA’s Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) is currently monitoring two space rocks that are expected to approach the planet tomorrow.

Fortunately, these two asteroids are not in danger of hitting Earth. The first asteroid that’s set to visit Earth’s neighborhood tomorrow is known as 2020 FF. According to CNEOS, this asteroid is currently traveling across the Solar System towards Earth at a speed of over 12,000 miles per hour. It has an estimated diameter of about 85 feet.

Trailing behind 2020 FF is a near-Earth object known as 2020 FW2. CNEOS noted that this asteroid is much bigger compared to 2020 FF. As indicated in the agency’s database, this asteroid measures about 312 feet wide. It is expected to approach Earth at a speed of almost 19,000 miles per hour.

Despit having no possibility of impacting Earth, asteroids of these sizes may have different effects on Earth during collision events. 2020 FF, for instance, will most likely explode in the atmosphere and cause a powerful airburst if it hits the planet.

Based on its size, the mid-air explosion caused by this asteroid could be release kinetic energy equivalent to several atomic bombs.

2020 FW2, on the other hand, is big enough to penetrate Earth’s atmosphere. This means instead of burning up in the atmosphere and exploding in the sky, this asteroid could hit the ground and cause an impact event if it collides with the planet.

According to CNEOS, both 2020 FF and 2020 FW2 are classified as Amor asteroids. Amor asteroids do not cross Earth’s orbit. Instead, they only make near-approaches to the planet as they orbit the Sun.

2020 FF is expected to fly past Earth on March 24 at 12:06 am EDT from a distance of about 0.04061 astronomical units or around 3.8 million miles away.

As for 2020 FW2, this asteroid will approach Earth on March 24 at 6:37 pm EDT. During this time, the asteroid will be about 0.02501 astronomical units or roughly 2.3 million miles from the planet’s center.