KEY POINTS

  • NASA detected five asteroids approaching Earth
  • All five asteroids will fly past Earth tomorrow
  • The fastest asteroid in the group is traveling over 34,000 miles per hour

A total of five asteroids will approach Earth tomorrow, according to NASA, As indicated in the agency’s database, all of the approaching space rocks belong to groups of asteroids that are known to intersect Earth’s orbit.

The first asteroid that will fly past Earth has been identified by NASA’s Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) as 2020 CX1. This asteroid is currently moving at a speed of over 17,000 miles per hour. It has an estimated diameter of about 295 feet.

CNEOS noted that 2020 CX1 will fly past Earth Feb. 19 at 6:01 a.m. EST from a distance of 0.03605 astronomical units or roughly 3.4 million miles.

Trailing behind 2020 CX1 is an asteroid known as 2020 DA. This asteroid is about the same size as 2020 CX1. Although they have the same diameter, 2020 DA is traveling at a much faster speed at over 23,000 miles per hour.

This asteroid is expected to make its debut in Earth’s vicinity on Feb. 19 at 6:37 a.m. EST. During this time, the asteroid will be about 0.02016 astronomical units or roughly 1.9 million miles from the planet’s center.

The third asteroid that will zip past Earth tomorrow is called 2020 BL7. According to CNEOS, this asteroid is currently flying towards Earth at a velocity of around 19,000 miles per hour. The agency estimated that this asteroid is almost 200 feet wide.

2020 BL7 will approach Earth on Feb. 19 at 3:28 p.m. EST from a distance of 0.03565 astronomical units away, which is equivalent to about 3.3 million miles.

Closely following 2020 BL7 is an asteroid known as 2020 CO2. With an estimated diameter of 88 feet, 2020 CO2 is certainly not the biggest in the group. However, it is the fastest with an average velocity of over 34,000 miles per hour.

According to CNEOS, 2020 CO2 will fly past Earth on Feb. 19 at 3:36 p.m. EST. It will be about 0.00992 astronomical units or around 922,000 miles from Earth during its approach.

The last asteroid that will approach Earth tomorrow is called 2020 CU2. This asteroid is about 66 feet wide and is flying across the Solar System at a speed of over 18,000 miles per hour.

2020 CU2 will zip past Earth on Feb. 19 at 6:48 p.m. EST from a distance of 0.03370 astronomical units or about 3 million miles away.

asteroids
This artist's animation illustrates a massive asteroid belt in orbit around a star the same age and size as our Sun. NASA/JPL-Caltech
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