On the day before the presidential vote, no less.
Yep. The celestial object known as 2018VP1 is projected to come close to Earth on November 2, according to the Center for Near Earth Objects Studies at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. It was first identified at Palomar Observatory in California in 2018.
“Asteroid 2018VP1 is very small, about 6.5 feet, and poses no threat to Earth. If it entered our planet’s atmosphere, it would disintegrate because of its very small size,” NASA said in a statement. “NASA has been commissioned by Congress to detect 90% of near-Earth asteroids larger than 140 meters (459 feet) and reports on asteroids of any size.”
NASA says that, “based on 21 observations spanning 12,968 days,” the agency probably determined the asteroid – phew! will have no profound effect, let alone bring Armageddon.
The chance that it will hit us is just 0.41%, data show.
CNN has reached out to NASA for additional or updated information, but has not heard back.
.
