Massive Asteroid Traveling 18,500 MPH Approaching Earth On Friday, NASA Confirms

NASA warned that a massive building-sized asteroid is currently on its way to approach Earth. Based on the data collected by the agency’s Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS), the asteroid could cause an impact event on Earth if it hits the planet.

The approaching asteroid has been identified as 2020 EA. According to CNEOS, this asteroid has an estimated diameter of about 240 feet, making it significantly more massive than the Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy.

CNEOS noted that this asteroid is currently traveling across space towards Earth at a speed of about 18,500 miles per hour.

Based on its trajectory, NASA was able to classify 2020 EA as an Amor asteroid. According to the agency, this asteroid follows a very wide orbit around the Sun. It is known to reach the orbits between Jupiter and Mars.

Unlike other types of space rocks, such as the Earth-crossing Apollos, Amor asteroids are relatively not as dangerous due to their natural orbits. As noted by NASA, Amor asteroids do not intersect Earth’s orbit. Instead, they only closely approach the planet from time to time.

Unfortunately, being an Amor asteroid does not automatically mean that these types of space rocks won’t collide with Earth. Certain factors in space could still alter its trajectory, sending it to a direct collision course with the planet.

If this happens, Earth could expect to experience an impact event from 2020 EA. Since the asteroid is big enough and is traveling fast enough, it will most likely penetrate Earth’s atmosphere and hit the ground. Based on its size, it could create a crater that’s almost a mile wide.

Once it hits the planet, the impact would release energy that’s powerful enough to destroy its immediate surroundings.

Fortunately, the asteroid is currently not on a collision course with Earth. According to CNEOS, 2020 EA’s next near-Earth approach is expected to happen on March 5 at 10:30 p.m. EST. During this time, the asteroid will be about 0.04610 astronomical units from the planet’s center, which is equivalent to around 4.3 million miles away.