NASA asteroid WARNING: Asteroid SP1 bigger than BIG BEN barreling to Earth at 37,600mph
PUBLISHED: 15:41, Fri, Sep 28, 2018 | UPDATED: 15:50, Fri, Sep 28, 2018
The giant space rock dubbed Asteroid 2018 SP1 is expected to make a so-called Earth Close Approach later next week.
According to NASA’s Center for Near Earth Object Studies, the asteroid will zip past our home world on Wednesday, October 3.
The asteroid will reach its closest distance to Earth sometime around 1.25am UK time (12.25am UT).
Next week, the asteroid will reach its nominal distance to Earth of 0.03926 astronomical units (au) or 15.28 lunar distances (LD).
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The distance is equivalent to more than 3.64 million miles (5.87 million km) or nearly 16 times the distance between the Earth and the Moon.
This might seem incredibly far away but an asteroid of this size could cause catastrophic damage if it hit Earth.
NASA estimated the asteroid measures somewhere between 229.6 ft and 524.9 ft (70m and 160m).
At its upper size estimate, the asteroid stands taller than Big Ben’s Westminster clock tower and the London Eye.
NASA asteroid warning: A space rock bigger than Big Ben's tower is headed towards Earth (Image: GETTY)
But even the smaller estimate is roughly equal to six London double-decker buses stacked in a row.
And because of the asteroid’s close approach, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, classified SP1 a Near-Earth Object (NEO).
NASA explained: “NEOs are asteroids and comets with orbits that come within 28 million miles of Earth's path around the sun, and NASA has been studying them since the 1970s.
“NASA's NEO Observations Program, at NASA Headquarters in Washington, is responsible for the Agency’s efforts at finding, tracking, and characterising NEOs.
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“The agency’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California, hosts the NEO Program Office for Headquarters.
Asteroid SP1 is an Apollo-typed Near-Earth Object with an orbital period of 862.6 days.
NASA first observed the asteroid on September 19 this year, just 16 days before it skims Earth.
After that, the asteroid will make a close approach to the planet Venus on November 3, 2018.
Then in 2051, Asteroid SP1 will pay another visit to Earth in the morning hours of October 2.
NASA asteroid warning: The asteroid is travelling at more than 37,600 mph (Image: GETTY)
NASA asteroid warning: The asteroid measures between 229.6 ft and 524.9 ft (Image: GETTY)
After SP1 safely passes the Earth, another five space rocks will make close approaches before the end of October.
Asteroid 2018 EB and Asteroid 2014 US7 will pass on October 7 and October 17 respectively, followed by Asteroids UG1 and GC221 on October 18.
The largest of the five, Asteroid 475534 2006 TS7 will fly by on October 29.
The asteroid could measure up to 1,115.5 ft (340 m) in diameter.
