An asteroid is set to zip past Earth this weekend . Although 2020 might be a year full of unexpected surprise , you may snub the doomsday - mongering tabloid newspaper headline as the asteroid will peacefully conk our satellite at a good aloofness .
The asteroid , known as163348 ( 2002 NN4)or just 2002 NN4 for short , will make a snug approach to Earth on Saturday night / Sunday morning at 03:20 UTC ( 23:20 easterly US fourth dimension ) . The fleeting visitor will pass our major planet at a distance of 5,093,634 kilometers ( 3,165,037 miles ) , around 13 times the distance of the Moon from Earth , according toNASA Asteroid Watch .
While this is a comparatively far distance , it ’s close enough to be defined as a “ Potentially Hazardous Asteroid " by NASA ’s Jet Propulsion Lab . This is a term used todescribeasteroids that are larger than 140 metre ( 460 metrical foot ) in size and pass within 7.5 million kilometre ( 4.7 million statute mile ) of Earth . However , the asteroid is nothing to vex about . Many tabloid newsworthiness electric outlet have branded 2002 NN4 as a " potentially ruinous " asteroid that is " heading towards Earth . ” Rest assured , Earth will be secure and good from this surpass visitor .
The flying space rock is between 0.2 to 0.5 kilometers ( 0.2 to 0.35 international mile ) in diameter , approximately the size of a football game stadium , and will soar past our planet at an eye - lachrymation 11.1 kilometers ( 6.9 mile ) per second . Scientists work out the size of asteroid by bet at its brightness . After describe for the asteroid ’s distance and its surface reflectivity , which can be determined by a number of factors such as shape and chemical substance composition , the amount of Light Within it reflects can be used to gauge its size .
Asteroids are jolting aim that orb around the Sun much like satellite . Unlike planet , however , they are notably little . Our Solar System is fill with many asteroids , although most can be found in the main asteroid belt that ’s roughly between the orbits of the major planet Mars and Jupiter . 2002 NN4 is referred to as an Aten asteroid because it will expend most of its field closer to the Sun than the Earth .
2002 NN4 orb the Sun every 299.6 days and will make its next close feeler on June 7 , 2029 when it passes Earth at a distance of 8,805,448 kilometers ( 5,471,451 international mile ) .
