NASA is watching a massive asteroid that is slated to overtake Earth on Christmas Day.
The Space Rock, 501647 (2014 SD224), is listed on the US Space Agency’s “Close Approach” list and can be up to 689 feet wide.
That’s as many as two football fields.
It is expected to be located 1.9 million miles from Earth.
This might sound like it’s not risky at all, but in terms of space, that’s pretty close.
Any rapidly moving space object within about 4.65 million miles is considered a “potential danger” by cautious space organizations.
The space rock is expected to capture our planet on December 25.
It should be around as soon as 3:20 PM ET.
to me NASA’s Near Approach TableA much smaller asteroid called 2020 XY will also fly off very early in the day.
This asteroid can be 144 feet wide but must be very far away.
It is expected to pass 3.6 million miles from Earth.
The largest and closest asteroid 501647 (2014 SD224) travels at about 22,000 miles per hour.
NASA has classified both asteroids near Earth’s bodies.
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