Summary
NASA is watching several asteroids that will come close to Earth soon. The largest asteroid, estimated to be about 1,640 feet wide, has a small chance of hitting Earth far in the future. Most of these space rocks are too far away to cause any harm now.
Key Facts
- NASA tracks an asteroid named 2022 OC3 that is about 24 feet wide and will pass Earth at 311,000 miles away.
- A different asteroid, called 2026 BK, will pass at 2,310,000 miles from Earth.
- More asteroids will pass Earth soon, including 2023 RX1 within 2,090,000 miles, 2026 BF1 at 2,630,000 miles, and 2025 YQ12 at 2,860,000 miles.
- Small asteroids, up to 30 feet wide, hit Earth about once every ten years, usually causing only minor disturbances like bright lights and noise.
- An asteroid named 2024 YR4 was previously thought to have a chance to hit Earth in 2032; however, it is now considered unlikely.
- Large asteroid Bennu has a one-in-2,700 chance of impacting Earth in 2182, possibly causing severe effects if it did.
- Scientists from Pusan National University in South Korea studied Bennu's potential impact, predicting significant environmental changes if a collision occurs.
