Asteroid 2020 ND, 160 meters in diameter, to fly beyond Earth on July 24

A large asteroid is heading towards Earth and it will pass our planet next week. Nicknamed Asteroid 2020 ND, it is classified as Near Earth Object (NEO) and Potentially Dangerous Asteroid (PHA) by NASA. It is estimated to be 160 meters or 520 feet in diameter, but there is no reason to worry, as it will safely fly beyond Earth, as it has done at least five times before according to NASA records. It will not be the first time that the asteroid visits Earth, since it maintains an orbit around the Sun that brings it closer to both Earth and Mars from time to time.

What are asteroids?

Asteroids are rocks that have been left from the formation of our solar system. Most of these asteroids are in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter; however, some orbit other planets in the system as well. NASA says there are almost 1 million known asteroids, so every two days we keep hearing about some or other asteroids that pass through Earth.

Asteroid 2020 ND on its approach to Earth
Photo Credit: NASA

Asteroid 2020 ND

According to NASA data, the first recorded approach to Earth from Asteroid 2020 ND was on July 17, 1945, and since then it has passed the planet four more times and will now cross us again on July 24, 2020. After from July 24, it is ready to fly beyond Earth in 2035, then in 2074, and then in 2145 and so on.

NASA does not consider Asteroid 2020 ND to be a key scientific target. That designation is reserved for asteroids like 101955 Bennu, 10199 Chariklo, 16 Psyche, 243 Ida, 25143 Itokawa, 253 Mathilde, 433 Eros, and 4 Vesta.

As mentioned, Asteroid 2020 ND is around 160 meters in diameter and at its closest approach it will be 5,570,000 km from Earth. To give you context on distance, the average distance from Earth to the Moon is 385,000 kms. So the asteroid is far enough away to do damage.