NASA Tracker: 3 Giant Asteroids Flying Past Earth This Week

KEY POINTS

NASA detected three massive asteroids approaching Earth this week
One of the approaching asteroids is bigger than the Eiffel Tower
2020 JX1 will fly past Earth from the closest distance

NASA’s automated asteroid tracking system has detected three massive asteroids that are expected to approach Earth this week. One of the approaching asteroids is classified as potentially hazardous.

The asteroids are currently being monitored through the database of NASA’s Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS). According to CNEOS, the first massive asteroid that will fly past the planet this week is called 2010 NY65.

This asteroid has an estimated diameter of 1,017 feet, making it almost as big as the Eiffel Tower in France. CNEOS noted that this asteroid is expected to fly past Earth at a speed of almost 29,000 miles per hour.

Due to its size and near-Earth approaches, 2010 NY65 has been classified as a potentially hazardous asteroid. This means it is capable of causing a major impact event if it hits Earth. Fortunately, CNEOS noted that 2010 NY65 is not in danger of colliding with the planet.

The asteroid will approach Earth on Wednesday (June 24) at 1:44 a.m. EDT from a distance of 0.02512 astronomical units or roughly 2.3 million miles away.

The second giant asteroid that will visit Earth’s vicinity this week is known as 2020 MK. This space rock measures about 623 feet wide, which makes it significantly bigger than the Washington Monument. 2020 MK is currently traveling across space towards Earth at a speed of almost 40,000 miles per hour.

According to CNEOS, 2020 MK is expected to fly past the planet on June 27 at 11:47 a.m. EDT. During this time, the asteroid will be about 0.03082 astronomical units or roughly 2.9 million miles from the planet’s center.

The last massive asteroid that will zip past Earth this week has been identified as 2020 JX1. As the smallest asteroid in the group, it has an estimated diameter of 328 feet. Given its size, this asteroid is bigger than the Statue of Liberty.

As noted by CNEOS, 2020 JX1 is approaching Earth at a speed of 11,000 miles per hour. Out of the three incoming asteroids, 2020 JX1 will approach Earth from the closest distance. According to CNEOS, this asteroid will fly past Earth on Sunday at 11:09 p.m. EDT from a distance of 0.00850 astronomical units or 790,000 miles away.