Super-Sized Asteroids To Approach Earth This Month; Here's All About The Space Rocks Heading Towards The Planet

Asteroid 2002 NN4 is expected to be taller than the Empire State Building in the US, and it will be flying near the Earth on June 6.

Near-Earth asteroid, computer artwork/ Getty Images

New Delhi: If you are still not overwhelmed by the fury of nature which has created havoc in the eastern and western coast of India in the form of cyclones, it’s time to witness yet another spectacular event as a large number of space rocks or Near-Earth Objects or NEOs or asteroids are headed in the direction of Earth. Also Read: The asteroids are expected to approach the Earth from relatively close range, according to the NASA’s Centre for Near Earth Object studies website. However, scientists have already said that the flying objects will not cause any damage to the planet. Here's NASA's link for tracking the asteroids: https://cneos.jpl.nasa.gov/ca/ Asteroid 2002 NN4 | June 6 If you check the NEO Close Approach data table, the asteroid 2002 NN4 will make its closest approach to Earth on June 6, at 3:20AM UTC. At its closest, the asteroid will reach a distance of 0.034 AU, or 5.09 million kilometres, as summarised in the News18 report. Given the name rock 163348 (2002 NN4), the space rock is believed to be travelling at a speed of 5.2 km a second or 11,200 miles per hour and will pass by near the Earth's orbit this week. It is estimated to be between 250m and 570m (820ft and 1870ft) and taller than the Empire State Building (443m or 1453ft) and the London Eye (135m or 443ft) combined, according to the dailystar.co.uk. The particular asteroid has been classed as Aten asteroid by International space agency, which is a space rock following a very wide orbit around the Sun, as per news agency IANS report. This particular space rock is supposed to be deadly since its broadest part has a diameter of 570 metres. During the fly-by asteroid 2002 NN4 will be at relative velocity of 40,140 kmph.

Asteroid 2013 XA22 | June 8

Another big one to follow is asteroid 2013 XA22, which will breach the MOID on Monday, June 8 at 3:40PM UTC. It is being said that the approach of this particular asteroid will be closer than that of the 2002 NN4, coming to 0.019 AU (2.93 million kilometres) of Earth. Asteroid 2013 XA22 is a far smaller space rock – it has peak diameter of 160 metres, and estimated to fly by a relative velocity of 24,050 kmph.

Asteroid 2010 NY65 | June 24

The next in the line is asteroid 441987 (2010 NY65). This one has been observed closely by scientists because of its proximal orbit to Earth since it was spotted almost a decade ago. It is expected to pass through Earth on Wednesday, June 24, at 6:44AM UTC. It will cross the MOID at 0.025 AU (3.76 million kilometres) from Earth. In terms of size the 2010 NY65 asteroid is between the 2002 NN4 and 2013 XA22 asteroids, with peak size of 310 metres in its diameter. It is estimated that asteroid 2010 NY65 has the highest relative velocity of 46,400 kmph among the three large asteroids set to come the closest to Earth in June.