NASA Tracker: 4 Asteroids To Approach, Fly By Earth This Week

KEY POINTS

NASA detected four asteroids approaching Earth this week
One of the asteroids is almost as big as the Statue of Liberty
Two asteroids will fly by Earth on Sunday

NASA’s automated asteroid tracking system detected four asteroids that are expected to fly past Earth this week. According to the data collected by the agency, the largest asteroid in the group is as big as a building.

NASA is currently monitoring the asteroids through its Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS). According to CNEOS, the first asteroid that will approach Earth this week is called 2020 NM. This space rock has an estimated diameter of 112 feet. It is currently moving toward Earth at a speed of almost 13,000 miles per hour.

CNEOS noted that 2020 NM would fly past Earth on July 16 at 5:06 a.m. EDT. During its approach, the asteroid will be about 0.02721 astronomical units or 2.5 million miles away from the planet’s center.

Trailing behind 2020 NM is an asteroid known as 2020 MX. According to CNEOS’ data, this asteroid is the biggest in the group. It measures about 279 feet wide. Given its estimated diameter, 2020 MX is almost as big as the Statue of Liberty, which stands 305 feet high.

According to CNEOS, 2020 MX will approach Earth on Friday at 1:16 a.m. EDT at a speed of almost 12,000 miles per hour. The asteroid is expected to fly past Earth from a distance of 0.03845 astronomical units or around 3.6 million miles away.

On July 19, Earth will be approached by two asteroids. The first space rock is known as 2016 DY30, which has an estimated diameter of 15 feet. CNEOS noted that this asteroid is currently moving across space at a speed of almost 34,000 miles per hour.

The second asteroid that will arrive on Sunday is called 2020 ME3. This space rock measures about 131 feet wide and is moving at an average velocity of 10,000 miles per hour.

2016 DY30 will fly past Earth on Sunday at 12:32 a.m. EDT from a distance of 0.02306 astronomical units or about 2.1 million miles away. 2020 ME3, on the other hand, will approach Earth on the same day at 7:21 p.m. EDT. During this time, the asteroid will be about 0.03791 astronomical units or roughly 3.5 million miles from the planet’s center.