NASA’s Asteroid Tracker Spots 2 Earth-Crossing NEOs Approaching Earth Tomorrow

KEY POINTS

NASA detected two asteroids approaching Earth
Both asteroids follow Earth-crossing orbits
The asteroids will fly past Earth tomorrow morning

NASA’s Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) has detected two asteroids that are expected to approach Earth tomorrow morning. According to the agency, the incoming near-Earth objects follow natural orbits that intersect the planet’s path.

The first asteroid that’s set to enter Earth's neighborhood tomorrow is known as 2020 FG6. As indicated in CNEOS’ database, this asteroid has an estimated diameter of about 75 feet. It is currently traveling across space toward Earth's path at a speed of almost 16,000 miles per hour.

2020 FG6 was first observed on March 25. Based on projections of its trajectory, NASA learned that the last time this asteroid approached Earth was on Oct. 9, 2010. During that time, the asteroid zipped past the planet from a distance of 0.46635 astronomical units or roughly 4.3 million miles away.

Trailing behind 2020 FG6 is an asteroid known as 2019 GM1. Although this asteroid is moving slower than 2020 FG6, it has a slightly bigger estimated diameter. According to CNEOS, 2019 GM1 will approach Earth with a speed of over 9,000 miles per hour. It measures around 79 feet wide.

The last time 2019 GM1 was in Earth’s vicinity was on April 4 last year. According to NASA, the asteroid approached Earth from a distance of 0.02021 astronomical units or about 1.9 million miles away during its visit last year.

Both 2020 FG6 and 2019 GM1 are officially classified as Apollo asteroids. According to NASA, the orbits of the two asteroids reach the region between Earth and Mars. From time to time, they intersect Earth’s path as the planet moves around the Sun.

According to NASA, 2020 FG6 is expected to intersect Earth’s orbit on April 2 at 6:57 a.m. EDT. During this time, the asteroid will fly past Earth from a distance of about 0.01375 astronomical units or roughly 1.2 million miles from the planet’s center.

On the other hand, 2019 GM1 will approach Earth on April 2 at 9:35 a.m. EDT. CNEOS noted that the asteroid would move past the planet from about 0.02294 astronomical units or 2.1 million miles away during tomorrow’s visit.