About eight massive asteroids, larger than the pyramids of Giza are approaching Earth. One of them will come close to Earth this week. Here’s everything you need to know.
Massive asteroids coming towards Earth
According to data from the Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS), a NASA organization, 2021 SM3, an asteroid discovered last month is passing towards Earth on Friday. The asteroid has a diameter of 525 feet and is larger than the Great Pyramid of Giza which measures 482 feet. While it is not heading for the planet, its impact will only “cause local damage to the impact area.” However, the asteroid will be about 3.6 million miles from Earth.
According to NASA, 2021 SM3 is a near-Earth object (NEO). NEOs are any object that comes within 120 million miles of our planet. According to NASA, NEOs “are comets and asteroids that have been nudged by the gravitational attraction of nearby planets into orbits that allow them to enter the Earth’s neighborhood.”
More on the other NEOs coming close to Earth
2021 SM3 is not the only asteroid that will soon pass by Earth. Several others larger than the 2021 SM3 will be in Earth’s proximity before the end of November. Out of them, 1996 VB3 will be the closest to us. The 754 feet wide NEO will be just 2.1 million miles away from us on October 20.
Additionally, 2004 UE with a diameter of 1,246 feet, slightly shorter than the Empire State Building is the largest in the group. It is expected to be 2.6 million miles away on November 13. However, it is not the biggest one this year. 2001 FO32, a NEO estimated to be 3,000 wide flew past 1.2 million miles from Earth.