NASA Detects 5 Asteroids Flying Past Earth This Weekend

NASA’s automated asteroid tracker is currently monitoring five near-Earth objects that are expected to fly past the planet this weekend. The biggest asteroid in the group is larger than the Washington Monument.

According to NASA’s Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS), three of the approaching asteroids will enter Earth’s vicinity on Saturday (June 27). The first asteroid that will zip past the planet has been identified as 2020 MK.

With an estimated diameter of 623 feet, 2020 MK is the largest asteroid in the group. It is currently flying toward Earth at a speed of almost 40,000 miles per hour. 2020 MK is expected to fly past Earth at 11:48 a.m. EDT from about 0.03082 astronomical units or 2.9 million miles away.

Trailing behind 2020 MK is an asteroid known as 2020 MF1. This small asteroid has an estimated diameter of 56 feet. According to CNEOS, 2020 MF1 will approach Earth at 4:12 p.m. EDT at an average speed of 23,000 miles per hour.

During this time, the asteroid will be about 0.00333 astronomical units or about 310,000 miles from Earth’s center.

The last asteroid that will visit Earth’s neighborhood on Saturday is called 2020 KQ7. As indicated in CNEOS’ database, this asteroid measures about 102 feet wide. It is currently traveling across space towards Earth at an average velocity of almost 6,000 miles per hour.

2020 KQ7 is expected to reach its closest distance to Earth at 6:19 p.m. EDT. During its approach, it will be about 0.02644 astronomical units or 2.5 million miles from the planet.

On Sunday (June 28), Earth will be approached by two asteroids. The first one will be the space rock known as 2020 ME1. This asteroid measures about 118 feet wide and is moving at an average speed of about 24,000 miles per hour.

According to CNEOS, 2020 ME1 will approach Earth at 1:13 a.m. EDT from a distance of about 0.00507 astronomical units or around 471,000 miles away.

The last asteroid that will visit Earth’s neighborhood this weekend is known as 2020 JX1. This 328-foot asteroid is currently traveling through the Solar System at an average velocity of over 11,000 miles per hour. It is expected to fly past Earth at 11:09 p.m. EDT from about 0.00850 astronomical units or roughly 790,000 miles away.