NASA Detects 6 Asteroids Flying Past Earth This Week

NASA’s automated asteroid tracking system has spotted a total of six near-Earth objects that are expected to fly past the planet this week. One of the approaching asteroids is almost as big as the Great Pyramid of Giza.

According to NASA’s Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS), the first incoming asteroid is known as 2019 AC3. This space rock measures about 69 feet wide and is approaching Earth at a speed of almost 8,000 miles per hour.

2019 AC3 is expected to fly past Earth on Wednesday (July 1) at 6:10 a.m. EDT from a distance of 0.02696 astronomical units or roughly 2.5 million miles away.

Trailing behind 2019 AC3 is an asteroid known as 2020 MK3. According to CNEOS, this asteroid has an estimated diameter of 134 feet. It will approach Earth on Wednesday at 3:07 p.m. EDT at a speed of almost 19,000 miles per hour.

During its approach, the asteroid will be about 0.00474 astronomical units or 440,000 miles from the planet’s center.

The third asteroid that will visit Earth’s vicinity this week is known as 2020 MT2. According to CNEOS, this asteroid measures about 328 feet and is moving across space at a speed of almost 19,000 miles per hour.

2020 MT2 is expected to zip past Earth on July 3 at 5:22 a.m. EDT from about 0.04125 astronomical units or roughly 3.8 million miles away.

Closely following 2020 MT2 is an asteroid known as 2020 MO. This asteroid has an estimated diameter of about 223 feet. It is currently approaching Earth at a speed of over 21,000 miles per hour.

According to CNEOS, 2020 MO will also fly past Earth on Friday at 7:05 a.m. EDT. During this time, the asteroid will be about 0.02389 astronomical units or around 2.2 million miles away.

The fifth asteroid that will visit Earth’s vicinity has been identified as 2007 UN12. According to CNEOS, this space rock measures about 36 feet wide. It will approach Earth on Saturday at 4:37 a.m. EDT at an average velocity of over 6,000 miles per hour.

During its visit, the asteroid will be about 0.04268 astronomical units or about 4 million miles away from the planet.

The last asteroid that will approach Earth this week is called 2020 LS. With an estimated diameter of 294 feet, 2020 LS is the largest asteroid in the group. It is currently moving at a speed of almost 26,000 miles per hour.

According to CNEOS, 2020 LS will also safely fly past Earth on July 4 at 7:49 a.m. EDT from a distance of 0.04981 astronomical units or 4.6 million miles away.