NASA Detects 2 Asteroids Approaching Earth This Weekend Asteroid 2002 Pz39

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April 12, 2020

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KEY POINTS

• Two asteroids will approach Earth this weekend
• Both asteroids have Earth-intersecting orbits
• One of the asteroids could cause a major impact event

NASA’s asteroid tracking system is currently monitoring two space rocks that will visit Earth’s vicinity this weekend. One of the approaching asteroids is big enough to trigger an extinction-level event on the planet.

According to NASA’s Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS), the first asteroid that will visit Earth on Saturday is known as if it collides with the planet.

Given its impressive size, 163373 (2002 PZ39) could create an explosion on Earth that’s powerful enough to fill the atmosphere with debris, blocking out the Sun. Without sunlight, Earth would experience a nuclear winter, which could trigger mass extinction events.

According to CNEOS, 163373 (2002 PZ39) will fly past Earth on Feb. 15 at 6:05 am EST. During its approach, the massive asteroid will be about 0.03860 astronomical units or roughly 3.6 million miles from the planet’s center.

2020 BL14, on the other hand, will make its debut in Earth’s vicinity on Feb. 16 at 10:29 a.m. EST. The asteroid is expected to approach Earth from a distance of around 0.04619 astronomical units, which is equivalent to about 4.3 million miles.

Over 17,000 near-Earth asteroids remain undetected in our solar neighborhood. Pictured; an artistic illustration of an asteroid flying by Earth. Photo: NASA