KEY POINTS

  • Four asteroids will approach Earth tomorrow
  • The biggest asteroid in the group is almost 200 feet wide
  • All approaching asteroids follow Earth-intersecting orbits

NASA’s asteroid tracking system has detected a total of four space rocks that are expected to approach Earth tomorrow. According to the data collected by the agency’s Center for Near-Earth Object Studies, the approaching asteroids follow Earth-crossing orbits.

The first asteroid that will fly past Earth tomorrow is called 2018 RF6. It has an estimated diameter of 194 feet, making it the biggest asteroid in the group. According to CNEOS, this asteroid is currently making its way across space at a velocity of over 28,000 miles per hour.

2018 RF6 is expected to approach Earth on March 10 at 3:15 am EST. During this time, the asteroid will be about 0.02877 astronomical units or roughly 2.8 million miles from the planet’s center.

Trailing behind 2018 RF6 is an asteroid known as 2020 EE. This asteroid is approaching Earth at a speed of almost 18,000 miles per hour. CNEOS estimated that it measures about 79 feet wide.

According to CNEOS, 2020 EE will enter Earth’s vicinity on March 10 at 5:41 am EST. It will fly past the planet from a distance of 0.01230 astronomical units or around 1.1 million miles away.

The third asteroid that’s set to approach Earth tomorrow has been identified as 2020 CA3. As indicated in CNEOS’ database, this asteroid measures about 177 feet wide. It is currently traveling across the Solar System and moving towards Earth at a speed of over 14,000 miles per hour.

2020 CA3 is expected to make its near-Earth approach on March 10 at 9:44 am EST. During its approach, it will be about 0.03518 astronomical units from the planet’s center, which is equivalent to about 3.8 million miles away.

The last asteroid that will visit Earth’s neighborhood tomorrow is called 2020 ED. This asteroid measures about 82 feet wide and is moving at an average speed of around 19,000 miles per hour.

CNEOS noted that this asteroid would fly past the planet on March 10 at 8:04 pm EST from a distance of 0.01942 astronomical units or roughly 1.8 million miles away.

According to NASA, all four asteroids belong to the Apollo family of space rocks. This means that these asteroids follow natural orbits that intersect Earth’s path as it travels around the Sun.

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Pictured; an artistic illustration of an asteroid flying by Earth. NASA