NASA is monitoring an asteroid approximately the size of an airplane as it prepares to pass by the Earth on March 21.
The asteroid, which has been dubbed "2021 FH1," is estimated to be about 98 feet across and will come within 925,000 miles of the Earth—about four times the average distance between the Earth and the moon.
This flyby is part of a series of five near-Earth approaches currently being closely monitored by NASA's Asteroid Watch Dashboard, a tool that tracks asteroids and comets making relatively close passes to our planet.
The dashboard highlights the closest approaches within 4.6 million miles, roughly 19.5 times the distance to the moon.
While "2021 FH1" is not classified as a potentially hazardous object (PHO), it is the closest of the five asteroids that NASA is currently keeping an eye on
Any object larger than 150 meters that comes within 4.6 million miles of Earth is designated as potentially hazardous due to the potential for long-term orbital shifts that could one day bring it onto a more threatening course.
An animation of asteroids approaching the Earth, with elements of this image furnished by NASA.An animation of asteroids approaching the Earth, with elements of this image furnished by NASA.Getty Images / mikdam
Other Asteroid Approaches
Alongside "2021 FH1," two other smaller asteroids—"2025 FG" and "2025 FF"—are also making their closest passes of the Earth this week.
Asteroids of this size regularly pass through the Earth's neighborhood, often unnoticed, unless they are actively tracked by NASA and other space agencies. The continuous monitoring of near-Earth objects (NEOs) is a crucial part of their work in assessing for potential risks.
Asteroids are rocky, airless remnants left over from the early formation of the solar system, about 4.6 billion years ago. Most are found in the asteroid belt, a region between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter, but some like "2021 FH1," have orbits that bring them closer to the Earth.
These space rocks vary in size and studying them can provide valuable insights into the history of the solar system, and the potential risks asteroids could pose to the Earth.
The Asteroid Watch Dashboard provides real-time data on the size, distance, and projected orbits of these objects, allowing the public to follow their movements.
Do you have a tip on a science story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about asteroids? Let us know via science@newsweek.com.
