NASA, ESA Detect Asteroid With 'Non-Zero' Probability Of Hitting Earth This Year

KEY POINTS

NASA and the ESA have detected an asteroid with a "non-zero" probability of hitting Earth in November
2018 VP1 is currently listed in the databases of asteroid impact monitoring systems
The approaching asteroid is too small to cause an impact event or a powerful mid-air explosion

NASA and the European Space Agency are monitoring an asteroid that has a "non-zero" probability of colliding with Earth later this year. Based on the data collected by the two agencies, the asteroid is not in danger of causing an impact event due to its small size.

The approaching asteroid has been identified as 2018 VP1. This asteroid is currently listed in NASA’s Sentry and the ESA’s Risk List, which are the agencies’ respective asteroid impact monitoring systems.

As noted by the agencies, all asteroids listed in Sentry and the Risk List have chances of colliding with Earth in the future. In the case of 2018 VP1, NASA detected three potential impacts the asteroid could cause.

According to the data gathered by both the ESA and NASA, 2018 VP1’s first potential impact could happen on Nov. 2 this year. The agencies noted that if the asteroid ends up colliding with Earth later this year, it will do so at a speed of over 32,000 miles per hour.

The ESA noted that the asteroid’s chances of hitting Earth in November are one in 193. These odds are based on the asteroid’s current trajectory. According to NASA, 2018 VP1 is an Apollo asteroid, which means it follows an Earth-crossing orbit.

Since factors in space can alter the current path of the asteroid, such as the gravitational pull of nearby planets and other large cosmic objects, the agencies believe it only has a slim chance of hitting Earth during its upcoming flyby.

Fortunately, even if 2018 VP1 ends up on a direct collision course with Earth, it won’t be able to cause an impact event. According to the data collected by NASA and the ESA, 2018 VP1 is a very small asteroid, with an estimated diameter of only 7 feet.

Given its size, the asteroid will most likely burn up and break apart upon entering Earth’s atmosphere instead of hitting the ground. Although there’s a chance that the asteroid might explode mid-air, it is not big enough to cause a powerful blast wave that could damage buildings on the ground.