NASA Warns 5 Asteroids Headed For Earth Tomorrow

KEY POINTS

NASA detected five asteroids currently headed for Earth
All five asteroids will approach the planet tomorrow
The asteroids will approach Earth from different distances

NASA’s asteroid tracking system is currently monitoring five asteroids that are currently headed for Earth. According to the agency’s Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS), all five asteroids are expected to approach Earth tomorrow.

The first asteroid that will enter Earth’s vicinity tomorrow has been identified by CNEOS as 2019 YT2. According to the agency, this asteroid is currently flying towards the planet at a speed of over 18,800 miles per hour. It has an estimated diameter of about 217 feet and will zip past Earth on Dec. 30 a 12:05 a.m. EST from a distance of 0.03629 astronomical units or about 3.4 million miles away.

Trailing behind 2019 YT2 is an asteroid known as 2019 YW1. This asteroid is about 361 feet wide and is traveling at an average speed of almost 44,000 miles per hour. According to CNEOS, 2019 YW1 will fly past Earth on Dec. 30 at 2:16 a.m. EST from a distance of 0.03374 astronomical units or roughly 3.1 million miles away.

The third asteroid that will visit Earth is called 2019 YR3. This asteroid is currently traveling towards the planet at an impressive speed of over 58,000 miles per hour. CNEOS estimated that it has a diameter of about 256 feet. 2019 YR3 is expected to debut in Earth’s vicinity on Dec. 30 at 12:39 p.m. EST. During this time, the asteroid will be about 0.01003 astronomical units or around 932,000 miles from Earth.

Closely following 2019 YR3 is asteroid 2019 YL3, which will fly past the planet on Dec. 30 at 1:39 p.m. EST. According to CNEOS, this asteroid is moving across space at a speed of almost 22,500 miles per hour and is about 59 feet wide. During its approach, 2019 YL3 will be about 0.00447 astronomical units or around 415,500 miles from the planet’s center.

The last asteroid that will visit Earth tomorrow is called 2019 YS3. This asteroid is approaching Earth at a velocity of almost 15,600 miles per hour. CNEOS estimated that 2019 YS3 is about 220 feet wide. It will reach its closest distance from Earth on Dec. 30 at 2:59 p.m. EST. During this time, it will be about 0.02935 astronomical units or around 2.7 million miles from Earth.