NASA’s asteroid tracker has detected a total of seven asteroids that will approach Earth's orbit this weekend. Based on the sizes of the incoming asteroids, most of them will most likely explode in the sky if they end up colliding with Earth.

According to the space agency’s Center for Near Earth Object Studies (CNEOS), this weekend’s near-Earth approaches will be kicked off with the arrival of four asteroids on Saturday. These asteroids have been identified as 2019 TN1, 2019 SK8, 2019 SV9 and 2019 SE2.

Most of these asteroids have diameters ranging from 25 to 53 meters, which means they aren’t big enough to breach Earth’s atmosphere. Even if they do end up hitting Earth, they will most likely burn up in the atmosphere and explode in the sky.

2019 SE2, on the other hand, could be big enough to penetrate the atmosphere. According to CNEOS, this asteroid has an estimated diameter of 92 meters, making it the biggest space rock that will fly by Earth this weekend.

2019 SE2 is currently traveling at a speed of 36,656 kilometers per hour. Given its speed and size, this asteroid might just be able to get through Earth’s atmosphere and cause an impact event on the ground if it ends up hitting the planet.

Fortunately, according to CNEOS, the four asteroids arriving on Saturday will fly past Earth from very safe distances. As noted by the agency, these space rocks will approach Earth from distances of 3 to 7 million kilometers away.

On Sunday, Earth will be visited by three asteroids. CNEOS identified these space rocks as 2019 TQ3, 2019 TH2 and 2019 TT1. The diameters from these asteroids range from 31 to 39 meters, which means they’re most likely not in danger of causing ground impacts if they collide with Earth.

According to CNEOS, 2019 TQ3 and 2019 TH2 will approach the planet from distances of 3 to 4 million kilometers away. 2019 TT1, on the other hand, will be the asteroid to fly closest to Earth this weekend. As noted by CNEOS, this asteroid will fly past Earth from only 1.1 million kilometers away.

asteroids_passing_earth
Pictured; an artistic illustration of an asteroid flying by Earth. NASA
RELATED STORIES
NASA Asteroid Space