The Spacewatch group at the Kitt Peak Observatory in Arizona first spotted it in December 1994.ĭespite being relatively small for an asteroid, with an estimated diameter of about 370 to 830 meters (or 1,214 to 2,723 feet), Asteroid 1994 XD would still overshadow most skyscrapers in New York City. The naming of this asteroid harks back to the year of its discovery. Details about “potentially hazardous” Asteroid 1994 XD Making its journey around the sun approximately every 3.6 years, Asteroid 1994 XD is scheduled to make another fly-by of Earth in 2041. At its closest, the asteroid will be about eight times the Earth-moon distance away, or over 1.9 million miles away. The Virtual Telescope Project emphasizes that while Asteroid 1994 XD will have a close encounter with Earth on June 12, the term “close” is relative in the vast expanse of space. In the month of June alone, NEOS is monitoring more than a dozen such close approaches.Įven as the asteroid nears, there will be ample distance separating us from it, ensuring we can observe it in the night sky without apprehension. The NASA Center for Near Earth Object Studies (NEOS) uses complex computer models to ascertain the orbits of near earth asteroids and comets, and calculate their likelihood of colliding with Earth. It’s termed “potentially hazardous” because its orbit crosses the minimal distance between Earth and the Sun, thus fulfilling the requisite criteria. Don’t let the “potentially hazardous” label scare youĭespite its potentially hazardous tag, NASA confirms that there’s no cause for concern about this asteroid striking Earth. Furthermore, plans are underway to provide a live feed of the asteroid’s fly-by. Various groups, including the Virtual Telescope Project, are vigilantly tracking this asteroid as it approaches our planet in its orbit. You can watch a livestream of the flyby at this website.
The Virtual Telescope Project reveals that Asteroid 1994 XD, the aforementioned asteroid, will reach its nearest proximity to Earth on the evening of Monday, June 12, right before 9 p.m. This celestial event will even be available for live viewing. However, scientists assure us that there’s no reason for alarm.
This week, a colossal asteroid, nearly the size of a skyscraper and labeled “potentially hazardous,” is set to zoom past our planet.
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