NASA Warns Airburst-Causing Asteroids Headed For Earth Tomorrow

NASA has detected two massive asteroids that are currently headed for Earth. According to the agency, the approaching asteroids are capable of causing powerful mid-air explosions in the atmosphere if they collide with the planet.

NASA’s Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) identified the first asteroid that will approach Earth tomorrow as 2019 XP3. As indicated in the agency’s database, this asteroid measures about 230 feet wide and is currently moving towards Earth at a speed of almost 20,000 miles per hour.

Trailing behind 2019 XP3 is an asteroid known as 2019 WB7. According to CNEOS, this asteroid has an estimated diameter of about 236 feet. It is currently traveling across space at a velocity of over 15,000 miles per hour.

2019 XP3 is classified as an Amor asteroid. It follows a wide orbit within the Solar System that goes around various planets including Mars, Mercury and Venus. Although 2019 XP3 does not follow an Earth-crossing orbit, it can still dangerously approach the planet from time to time.

On the other hand, 2019 WB7 is an Aten asteroid, which means it follows an orbit that crosses that of Earth as the planet travels around the Sun.

If any of these two approaching asteroids end up hitting the planet during their upcoming visit, they will most likely explode in the atmosphere instead of hitting the ground. Although they are big enough to cause minor impact events, they are not moving fast enough to get through Earth’s atmosphere.

If these asteroids end up exploding mid-air, the energy that would be released from the mid-air detonation would be equivalent to hundreds of atomic bombs. This means the explosion the asteroids would create would be powerful enough to affect people and structures on the ground.

According to CNEOS, 2019 XP3’s near-Earth approach will take place on Dec. 23 at 1:22 a.m. EST. During this time, the asteroid will be about 0.04673 astronomical units or roughly 4.3 million miles from the planet’s center.

As for 2019 WB7, this asteroid will cross Earth’s path on Dec. 23 at 10:39 a.m. EST. This asteroid is expected to be about 0.00721 astronomical units or about 670,000 miles from Earth during its approach.