‘Hazardous’ Giant Asteroids to Pass by Earth This Week

Two asteroids the size of the Empire State Building, classified as “potentially hazardous,” will make close approaches to Earth this week, Newsweek reported Monday, citing NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

The JPL said the asteroids, designated 2007 JX2 and 2020 XR, will pass near Earth on Tuesday and Wednesday. NASA’s Center for Near-Earth Object Studies classified them as near-earth objects and potentially hazardous asteroids.

NEOs are defined as celestial objects that come within approximately 30 million miles of Earth. To qualify as a PHA, an object must measure at least 460 feet in diameter and approach within 4.6 million miles of Earth. Although these asteroids will not pose a direct threat, their proximity is close enough to warrant close monitoring.

Read more at Newsmax© 2024 Newsmax. All rights reserved.