NASA Tracker: 4 Asteroids To Fly Past Earth This Weekend

KEY POINTS

NASA detected four asteroids approaching Earth this weekend
The biggest asteroid in the group measures almost 280 feet wide
Two of the approaching asteroids follow Earth-crossing orbits

NASA’s automated asteroid tracking system is currently monitoring four near-Earth objects that are expected to fly past the planet this weekend. According to the data collected by the agency, two of the approaching asteroids follow Earth-intersecting orbits.

The asteroids approaching Earth are being tracked by NASA’s Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS). As noted by CNEOS, three of the four asteroids will enter Earth’s vicinity on Saturday (June 13).

The first asteroid that will zip past the planet is called 2020 JU1. This space rock measures about 272 feet wide and is currently moving towards Earth at a speed of almost 15,000 miles per hour.

It is expected to fly past Earth at 10:34 a.m. EDT. During this time, the asteroid will be about 0.04873 astronomical units or roughly 4.5 million miles from the planet’s center.

Trailing behind 2020 JU1 is 2020 LC. With an estimated diameter of 279 feet, 2020 LC is the largest asteroid in the group. It will approach Earth at 11:07 a.m. EDT at a speed of over 17,000 miles per hour. It will fly past the planet from a distance of 0.03176 astronomical units or about 3 million miles away.

The third asteroid that will enter Earth’s neighborhood on Saturday is called 2020 KB3. This asteroid is currently moving across space at a speed of almost 17,000 miles per hour. CNEOS estimated that 2020 KB3 measures about 223 feet wide.

2020 KB3 is expected to fly past Earth at 4:36 p.m. EDT from a distance of 0.00807 astronomical units or about 750,000 miles away.

The last asteroid that will approach Earth this weekend has been identified as 2017 MF7. According to CNEOS, this asteroid has an estimated diameter of 128 feet. It is currently making its way towards Earth at a speed of over 24,000 miles per hour.

2017 MF7 is expected to fly past Earth at 8:10 a.m. EDT. During its approach, it will be about 0.00945 astronomical units or about 878,000 miles away.

As noted by NASA, the four asteroids follow wide orbits around the Sun. However, two of the asteroids, namely 2020 JU1 and 2017 MF7, follow natural orbits that directly cross Earth’s path.